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Dittmarite

Formula:
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicHardness:5
This page provides mineralogical data about Dittmarite.

Classification of Dittmarite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CH.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:40.1.2.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : AB(XO4)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.3.22

19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Dittmarite

Type Locality:Skipton Caves (Skipton lava caves; Mt Widderin Caves), Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill), Skipton, Corangamite Shire, Victoria, Australia
Year of Discovery:1887

Physical Properties of Dittmarite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Hardness (Mohs):5

Crystallography of Dittmarite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 5.61Å, b = 8.76Å, c = 4.79Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.64 : 1 : 0.547
Unit Cell Volume:V 235.40 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Dittmarite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.549 nβ = 1.569 nγ = 1.571
2V:Measured: 40° , Calculated: 34°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Dittmarite

Formula:
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, N, O, P

Relationship of Dittmarite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.CH.05Walentaite
H(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Fe
3+
3
[(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)]
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
8.CH.10Anapaite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CH.15Picropharmacolite
Ca
 
4
Mg[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 11H
 
2
O
8.CH.20Niahite
(NH
 
4
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)[PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.CH.25Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
[(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.CH.25Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH·9H
 
2
O
8.CH.30Schertelite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
MgH
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CH.35Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O
8.CH.40Struvite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
8.CH.40Struvite-K
KMg(PO
 
4
)·6H
 
2
O
8.CH.45Rimkorolgite
(Mg,Mn)
 
5
(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O
8.CH.50Bakhchisaraitsevite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
8.CH.55Fahleite
Zn
 
5
CaFe
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
·14H
 
2
O
8.CH.55Smolyaninovite
8.CH.55Smolianinovite
(Co,Ni,Mg,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
·11H
 
2
O
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Al)
(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
12
Al
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH,Cl)
 
x
·nH
 
2
O
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Fe)
(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
12
Fe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH,Cl)
 
x
·nH
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.3.1Moraesite
Be
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.2Beryllonite
NaBe[PO
 
4
]
19.3.3Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.4Hydroxylherderite
CaBe[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.5Glucine
CaBe
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
19.3.6Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.7Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.3.9Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
·38H
 
2
O
19.3.10Tiptopite
K
 
2
(Na,Ca)
 
2
Li
 
3
Be
 
6
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.3.11Gainesite
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
19.3.12Roscherite
Ca(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.13Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.14Farringtonite
Mg
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.15Holtedahlite
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.3.16Althausite
Mg
 
2
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.17Newberyite
MgHPO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
19.3.18Phosphorrösslerite
MgHPO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
19.3.19Bobierrite
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.20Barićite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.21Panethite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.23Struvite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.24Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Dittmarite

German names:
Dittmarit
Spanish names:
Dittmarita

Other Information

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 Dittmarite

Reference List:MacIvor (1887) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 55: 215.

MacIvor (1902) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 85: 181.

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.: 699.

American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 1316.

The Chemical News: 85: 181-182.

USGS PP 750-A: A115.

Internet Links for Dittmarite

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    Localities for Dittmarite

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    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.
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • Corangamite Shire
        • Skipton
          • Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill)
    		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: 699; Birch, W.D. & D.A. Henry (1993), Phosphate Minerals of Victoria (The Mineralogical Society of Victoria - Special publication No.1:
    Botswana
     
    • North-West District
      • Maun
    		[AmMin 84:194]
    Chile
     
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Iquique
          • Puerta Patillos
    		http://forum.amiminerals.org/viewtopic.php?t=3756&highlight=patache
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
    		Martini, J.E.J. (1992) Swaknoite [Ca(NH4)2·(HPO4)2·H2O, orthorhombic]: A new mineral from Arnhem cave, Namibia. Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 32: 72-74.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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