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Churchite-(Y)

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Girard, Girard District, Burke Co., Georgia, USA
© JBS 2007

Show Churchite-(Y) Photos (36)
Formula:
YPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, grey, ...
Hardness:3
Name:After the English chemist Arthur Herbert Church (1834-1915).
Isostructural with:Gypsum


Gypsum Group

A note on the nomenclature:
The original chemical analysis of churchite (1865) indicated 51.87 wt.% of Ce2O3 with some didymium (this was the Cornish material). Unfortunately, the real chemical composition of the material was primarily Y-dominant, with minor amounts of La, Nd, and Er. The mineral weinschenkite (now a synonym of churchite) was described in 1923 from Bavaria. With the requirement to go to a Levinson nomenclature (Levinson, 1966), the Y was added on to the churchite. Dana's 7th edition, volume II (1951) "System of Mineralogy" covered the species as two entries, both as "Weinschenkite" and as "Churchite," with the formula of the former being Y-dominant and the latter being Ce-dominant. Following today's rules, churchite would probably have been discredited and weinschenkite would have priority.

Classification of Churchite-(Y)

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.25-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CJ.50

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:40.4.6.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.9.2

19 : Phosphates
9 : Phosphates of rare earths and Sc
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Type Occurrence of Churchite-(Y)

Type Locality:Maffei Mine (Nitzelbuch Mine), Nitzlbuch (Nitzelbuch), Auerbach, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
Year of Discovery:1923
Geological Setting of type material:Limonite deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WavelliteLimoniteDufréniteCrandalliteCacoxenite
Beraunite

Physical Properties of Churchite-(Y)

Lustre:Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Comment:Lustre pearly on cleavage.
Colour:Colourless, white, grey, yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3
Cleavage:Perfect
On {101}, perfect.
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.14 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.2 g/cm3

Crystallography of Churchite-(Y)

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.578Å, b = 15.006Å, c = 6.275Å
β = 117.83°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.372 : 1 : 0.418
Unit Cell Volume:V 464.49 ų
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals acicular to lath-shaped (gypsum-like), elongated [001] and flattened {010}; form crusts and spherulites with a radial-fibrous structure.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Churchite-(Y)

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.623 nβ = 1.631 nγ = 1.657
2V:Measured: 10° , Calculated: 60°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.034

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Churchite-(Y)

Formula:
YPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, P, Y
All elements listed in formula:H, O, P, Y

Relationship of Churchite-(Y) to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CJ.05Stercorite
NaNH
 
4
HPO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Swaknoite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nabaphite
NaBaPO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nastrophite
Na(Sr,Ba)PO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.20Haidingerite
Ca[HAsO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.25Vladimirite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.30Ferrarisite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.30Guérinite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.35Machatschkiite
(Ca,Na)
 
6
AsO
 
4
(AsO
 
3
OH)
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·15H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Phaunouxite
Ca
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Rauenthalite
Ca
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Brockite
(Ca,Th,Ce)(PO
 
4
)·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Grayite
(Th,Pb,Ca)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·1-2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Ce)
(Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(La)
(La,Ce)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Tristramite
(Ca,U,Fe)(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Smirnovskite
(Th,Ca)PO
 
4
 ·nH
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Ardealite
Ca
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Brushite
CaHPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Pharmacolite
CaHAsO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Nd)
NdPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.55Mcnearite
NaCa
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.60Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
(PO
 
3
OH)·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Sincosite
CaV
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Bariosincosite
Ba(V
4+
 
O)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.70Catalanoite
Na
 
2
[HPO
 
4
] · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.9.1Xenotime-(Y)
YPO
 
4
19.9.3Monazite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO
 
4
19.9.4Monazite-(La)
(La,Ce,Nd)PO
 
4
19.9.5Monazite-(Nd)
(Nd,La,Ce)PO
 
4
19.9.6Rhabdophane-(Ce)
(Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.9.7Rhabdophane-(La)
(La,Ce)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.9.8Rhabdophane-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.9.9Vitusite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.9.10Florencite-(Ce)
CeAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.9.11Florencite-(La)
LaAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.9.12Florencite-(Nd)
NdAl
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.9.13Kolbeckite
ScPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Churchite-(Y)

Synonyms:
ChurchiteRogersite (of Smith)Weinschenkite (of Laubmann)
Other Languages:
German:Churchit
Russian:Черчит-(Y)
Spanish:Churchita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Thermoluminescent upon gentle heating.
Other Information:Soluble in hot acids, insoluble in alkalies.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Churchite-(Y)

Reference List:Church (1865) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 12: 121.

Williams (1865) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 12: 183.

Laubmann (1923) Geognost. Jahreshefte, Geol. Landes. München: 35: 193 (as Weinschenkite).

Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 111.

Heinrich (1935) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 142: 1.

Strunz (1942) Naturwiss.: 30: 64 (as Weinschenkite).

Milton, Murata, and Knechtel (1944) American Mineralogist: 29: 92 (as Weinschenkite).

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 771-773 (as Weinschenkite), 773 (as Churchite).

Mineralogical Magazine (1987): 51: 468.

Acta Crystallographica (1994): C: 1651.

Hikichi, Y. (1996): Preparation and some properties of rare earth orthophosphates. Kidorui, 29, 61-78. (in Japanese)

Assaaoudi, H.; Ennaciri, A.; Rulmont, A. (2001): Vibrational spectra of hydrated rare earth orthophosphates. Vibrational Spectroscopy 25, 81-90.

Articles/Blogs about Churchite-(Y)

Internet Links for Churchite-(Y)

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Churchite-(Y)

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Argentina
     
    • Córdoba
      • Punilla Department
        • Tanti
    		Dr. Nestor Hillar P. collection
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    		Birch BH Book
    • South Australia
      • Eyre peninsula
        • Middleback Range
          • Iron Knob
    		Australian Jour.Min. v.6, no. 1
    • Western Australia
    		Trans. Inst. Mining Metall.(Sect. B:Applied Earth Sci.) 104, 203-208(1995)
    Austria
     
    • Styria
      • Fischbacher Alpen Mts
        • Fischbach
    		Bernhard, F. & Taucher, J. (1999)
        • Rettenegg
    		Bernhard, F. & Leikauf, B. (2007)
    Bolivia
     
    • Cochabamba Department
      • Ayopaya Province
    		Schultz, F., et al. (2004) Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 148, 391-408.
    Brazil
     
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Jaguaraçu
    		[Mineralogical Record - Vol 25 No.3]
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Hradec Králové Region
        • Krkonoše Mts
          • Špindlerův Mlýn
    		Plášil J., Sejkora J., Škoda R., Goliáš V. 2006: Supergene Y, REE minerals from the Medvědín deposit, the Krkonoše (Giant) Mts., Czech Repulic. Mineralogia Polonica, vol. 28, 181-183
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
            • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal)
    		Lapis 2002(7/8), 62
      • Liberec Region
        • Harrachov (Harrachsdorf)
    		Sejkora, j., Veselovský, F., Šrein, V.: The supergene mineralization of uranium occurence Rýžoviště near Harrachov (Krkonoše Mts., Czech republic). Acta Mus. Nat. Prague, Ser. B, Hist. nat., 1994, 50, p. 55-91.
    Scharm, B.: Přehled minerálů nalezených v oblasti uranových koncentrací v severočeské křídě. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1995, roč. 3, s. 169-172.
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Allier
        • Ebreuil
          • Echassières
    		Queneau Patrice collection
    Le Règne Minéral, (33), 5-25.
    • Poitou-Charentes
      • Deux-Sèvres
        • Le Temple
    		Le Cahier des micromonteurs, 2002, N°75, pp 8-25
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Fichtelgebirge
          • Weißenstadt
            • Großschloppen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Auerbach
          • Nitzlbuch (Nitzelbuch)
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 772; Lapis 1983(3), 9-18; Dana 7:II:772,803,960; Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", Stuttgart (2001), 224
    • Hesse
      • Odenwald
        • Bensheim
          • Reichenbach
    		S. Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Siegerland
        • Gebhardshain
          • Kausen
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundstellen in Deutschland", 2001
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schneeberg District
          • Neustädtel
            • Weißer Hirsch Mine (Shaft 3)
      • Oberlausitz
        • Görlitz
          • Rengersdorf
    		T. Witzke & T. Giesler (1997): Neufunde aus Sachsen (VI): Churchit-(Y), Cyrilovit, Faustit, Kidwellit, Meurigit und Nickelhexahydrit aus der Lausitz.- Lapis 22, 9, 36-38
        • Niesky
          • Horscha
    		Witzke, T. & Giesler, T. (2007): Der Schieferabbau Pansberg bei Horscha in der Lausitz, Sachsen. Lapis 32 (7-8), 68-73; 86.
      • Vogtland
        • Oelsnitz
    		Gröbner, J. and Kolitsch, U. (2007): The minerals of the uranium prospect at Tirpersdorf, Vogtland. Lapis 32, 37-42; 58. (in German)
    Italy
     
    • Sardinia
      • Cagliari Province
        • Capoterra
    		Olmi F., Sabelli C., Senesi F., Stara P., 2002. La mineralizzazione uranifera di Arcu su Linnarbu. Riv. Miner. Ital., 3: 148-169.
    Madagascar
     
    • Antananarivo Province
      • Itasy Region
        • Soavinandriana Department
          • Mahavelona Commune
    		J.Behier (1963): Carte mineralogique de Madagascar. Archive Serv. Geol.Mad. A 1871
    Mozambique
     
    • Zambezia Province
      • Alto Ligonha District
    		No reference listed
    Norway
     
    • Aust-Agder
      • Iveland
        • Landås
    		Bjørlykke (1966b, p. 182); J. Hysingjord (1969, letter); Neumann Neumann (1985) : Norges mineraler. Norges geologiske undersøkelse Skrifter 68, pp. 125-126).
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Onac, B.P., Ettinger, K., Kearns, J., Balasz, I.I. (2005): A modern, guano-related occurrence of foggite, CaAl(PO4)(OH)2·H2O and churchite-(Y), YPO4·2H2O in Cioclovina Cave, Romania. Mineralogy and Petrology, 85, 291-302.
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
          • Western Keivy Massif
    		A.V. Voloshin, Ya.A. Pakhomovskii Minerals and mineralformation evolution in amazonite pegmatites of Kola peninsula, - Leningrad, Nauka, 1986, pp.168.
    Slovenia
     
    • Ljubljana
      • Katarina Mt.
    		A. Rečnik, N. Daneu, J. Zavašnik, T. Dolenec - Dvojčki pirita želeni križ s Katarine nad Ljubljano; Nahajališča Mineralov v Sloveniji, IJS 2007
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
    		USGS Open File report 02-189
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Córdoba
        • Villanueva de Córdoba
    		Schnorrer, G. & Kronz, A. (2005): Cobaltneustädtelit, Metatorbernit, Churchit und Plumbogummit, vier von der ehemaligen Grube Espuela de San Miguel bei Villanueva de Cordoba, Prov. Cordoba in Spanien. Der Aufschluss, 56, 177-182. (in German)
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Camborne - Redruth - St Day District
          • Camborne
            • Troon
              • Wheal Pendarves
    		Lapis 11(2), 26 (1986)
        • St Austell District
          • Lanivet Area
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Alabama
      • Cherokee Co.
    		Min.Rec.:20(5):361.
    Mineralogy of Alabama Geol Surv Ala. Bull 120
    Rocks & Min 70:5 pp 320-333
      • Tallapoosa Co.
    		Rocks & Min 70:5 pp 320-333
    • Arkansas
      • Hot Spring Co.
    • California
      • Marin Co.
    MinRec 2:166
    • Georgia
      • Burke Co.
        • Girard District
    		Jason Smith & M.E. Ciriotti (2005) [m.ciriotti@tin.it]
    Leonard S.Wiener and Sigrid Ballew,1995, Updated by Kenny Gay,2006, A Listing Of North Carolina Minerals,Geologic Note No.4
      • Mitchell Co.
        • Spruce Pine District
          • Spruce Pine
            • Greasy Creek Township
    		Genth,F.A,1891,The Minerals of North Carolina, pg 75 and pg 107
    • Texas
      • Llano Co.
    		Self-Collected March 2006, Occurs as small sprays in Sulfide zones
    • Virginia
      • Albemarle Co.
        • North Garden
    		Minerals of Virginia, 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
      • Amherst Co.
        • Roseland
    		Minerals of Virginia, 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
      • Rockbridge Co.
        • Lyndhurst-Vesuvius District
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 772; Rocks & Minerals: 64: 44-45.
    www.minresco.com
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