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Monetite

Big Photo

Sandamab pegmatite (Sandamap pegmatite), Usakos, Karibib District, Erongo Region, Namibia
© Leon Hupperichs

Formula:
CaHPO
 
4
System:TriclinicColour:White, yellow or ...
Hardness:3½
Name:After Moneta Island, near Puerto Rico, Caribbean, one of the two islands where it was initially found.
This page provides mineralogical data about Monetite.

Classification of Monetite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.12-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AD.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:37.1.1.1
Dana 8th edition ID:37.1.1.1

37 : ANHYDROUS ACID PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.4.1

19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Monetite

Type Locality:Monito Island (Moneta Island; Muna Muna Island), Mayeguez, Puerto Rico
Year of Discovery:1882

Physical Properties of Monetite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White, yellow or colourless; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
On three unspecified planes.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.929 g/cm3
Comment:Measured value on artificial material.

Crystallography of Monetite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.9Å, b = 8.57Å, c = 6.63Å
α = 93.9°, β = 91.5°, γ = 127.63°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.805 : 1 : 0.774
Unit Cell Volume:V 308.63 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Minute crystals forming massive aggregates; crusts, stalactites with rough crystalline surfaces. Crystals have rough surfaces and are frequently configured in interpenetrating groups; commonly flattened {010} with a rhombohedral outline.
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 Monetite

Type:Biaxial (+/-)
RI values: nα = 1.587 - 1.600 nβ = 1.614 nγ = 1.631 - 1.640
2V:Measured: 70° , Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.044

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

Chemical Properties of Monetite

Formula:
CaHPO
 
4
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, P

Relationship of Monetite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.AD.05Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
8.AD.10Weilite
CaHAsO
 
4
8.AD.10Švenekite
Ca(H
 
2
AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AD.15Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)[H
 
2
PO
 
4
]
8.AD.15Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)H
 
2
PO
 
4
8.AD.20Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
HPO
 
4
8.AD.25Buchwaldite
NaCaPO
 
4
8.AD.30Schultenite
PbHAsO
 
4
8.AD.35Chernovite-(Y)
YAsO
 
4
8.AD.35Clinobisvanite
BiVO
 
4
8.AD.35Dreyerite
BiVO
 
4
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Ce)
(Ce,Pb)VO
 
4
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Y)
YVO
 
4
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Y)
YPO
 
4
8.AD.35Pretulite
ScPO
 
4
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Yb)
YbPO
 
4
8.AD.40Pucherite
BiVO
 
4
8.AD.45Ximengite
BiPO
 
4
8.AD.50Gasparite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)AsO
 
4
8.AD.50Monazite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)PO
 
4
8.AD.50Monazite-(La)
(La,Ce,Nd)PO
 
4
8.AD.50Monazite-(Nd)
(Nd,La,Ce)PO
 
4
8.AD.50Rooseveltite
BiAsO
 
4
8.AD.50Cheralite
CaTh[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AD.50Monazite-(Sm)
(Sm,Gd,Ce,Th)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.55Tetrarooseveltite
Bi(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.60Chursinite
(Hg-Hg)
 
0.5
Hg
2+
 
[AsO
 
4
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.4.2Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
19.4.3Brushite
CaHPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
19.4.4Isoclasite
Ca
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.4.5Buchwaldite
NaCaPO
 
4
19.4.6Canaphite
CaNa
 
2
[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.4.7Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
19.4.8Whitlockite
Ca
 
9
Mg[PO
 
3
OH][PO
 
4
]
 
6
19.4.9Brianite
Na
 
2
CaMg[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.4.10Petersite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):
37.1.1.2Weilite
CaHAsO
 
4

Other Names for Monetite

Synonyms:
Chavesite
German names:
Monetit
Russian names:
Монетит
Spanish names:
Monetita

Other Information

Other Information:Powdered material takes up water from the atmosphere and forms Brushite.
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 Monetite

Reference List:Shepard (1856) American Journal of Science 22: 96 (as Glaubapatite, in part).

Shepard (1882) American Journal of Science: 23: 400.

de Schulten (1901) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 24: 332.

de Schulten (1904) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 27: 120.

Willbourn (1925) Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society: 3, Pt. 3: 57.

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

Hill and Hendricks (1936) Ind. Eng. Chem.: 38: 440.

Frondel (1943) American Mineralogist: 28: 215.

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.: 660-661.

Acta Crystallographica (1977): B33: 1223-1229.

Internet Links for Monetite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Monetite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Monetite

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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
     
    • Western Australia
      • Nullarbor Plain
        • Eucla
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Aggteleki Mts.
        • Aggtelek
    Malaysia
     
    • Borneo
      • Sarawak
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1983): 47: 79-80.
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
        • Usakos
    		U. Kolitsch (single-crystal X-ray diffraction)
    Puerto Rico
     
    • Mayeguez
    		Shepard (1882) American Journal of Science, ser. 3: 23, 400-405; 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: 661.
    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: 661.
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Onac, B.P., Breban, R., Kearns, J., and Tamas, T. (2002) Unusual minerals related to phosphate deposits in Cioclovina Cave, Şureanu Mts. (Romania). Theoretical and Applied Karstology: 15: 27-34.
    Saint Helena
     
    No reference listed
    USA
     
    • California
      • Mono Co.
        • Mono Lake
    Venezuela
     
    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.: 661.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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