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Niahite

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Big Photo

Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
© 2007, JGW




Formula:
(NH
 
4
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
System:Orthorhombic
Name:Named for the type locality, Niah Great Cave, Sarawak, Malaysia
Isostructural with:Dittmarite


Note: Artificially grown "niahite" is sold on the market. It is in fact ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP), also called mono ammonium phosphate (MAP), formula NH4H2PO4. These fakes can be either colored bright green by doping with chromium or in any color by adding water soluble dyes like food coloring (Udo Behner info). The matrix may consist of quartz crystals or any other rock.

Classification of Niahite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-30
Strunz 9th edition ID:8.CH.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:40.1.2.2

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : AB(XO4)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.12.5

19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
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Type Occurrence of Niahite

Type Locality:Niah Great Cave (Gunong Jerneb), Sarawak, Borneo Island, Malaysia
General Appearance of Type Material:fine radiating and sub-parallel clusters of crystals up to 0.5mm in size
Place of Conservation of Type Material:West Australian Government Chemical Laboratories, Perth, Australia ; the Malaysian Geological Survey in Kuching;the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra, Australia
Geological Setting of type material:cave
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WhitlockiteVivianiteVarisciteTaranakiteStruvite
StrengiteQuartzOpalNewberyiteMonetite
LeucophosphiteHannayiteGypsumBrushiteArdealite

Physical Properties of Niahite

Density (measured):2.39 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.437 g/cm3

Crystallography of Niahite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Pmn21
Cell Parameters:a = 5.68Å, b = 8.78Å, c = 4.88Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.647 : 1 : 0.556
Unit Cell Volume:V 243.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
8.82 (100)
4.79 (50)
4.267 (60)
3.412 (40)
2.845 (80)
2.832 (90)
2.513 (30)
2.437 (30)
2.367 (30)
2.300 (40)
2.146 (30)

Optical Data of Niahite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.582 nβ = 1.604 nγ = 1.609
2V:Measured: 54° , Calculated: 50°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.027

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

Chemical Properties of Niahite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mn, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, Mn, N, O, P

Relationship of Niahite 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(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
8.CH.20Dittmarite
(NH
 
4
)Mg(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
8.CH.25Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 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
)Mg(PO
 
4
) · 6H
 
2
O
8.CH.40Struvite-(K)
KMg(PO
 
4
)·6H
 
2
O
8.CH.40Hazenite
KNaMg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 14H
 
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:

- +
19.12.1Metaswitzerite
Mn
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.12.2Bermanite
Mn
2+
 
Mn
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.12.3Natrophilite
NaMn
2+
 
PO
 
4
19.12.4Sidorenkite
Na
 
3
Mn
2+
 
(CO
 
3
)(PO
 
4
)
19.12.6Robertsite
Ca
 
3
Mn
3+
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.12.7Pararobertsite
Ca
 
2
Mn
3+
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
O
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.12.8Sinkankasite
H
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 6H
 
2
O
19.12.9Mangangordonite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.10Heterosite
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)PO
 
4
19.12.11Purpurite
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)PO
 
4
19.12.12Wolfeite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.12.13Triploidite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.12.14Lipscombite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
19.12.15Frondelite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
5
19.12.16Rockbridgeite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
5
19.12.17Kryzhanovskite
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,H
 
2
O)
 
3
19.12.18Landesite
Mn
2+
3-x
Fe
3+
x
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
x
 · (3-x)H
 
2
O
19.12.19Phosphoferrite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.12.20Reddingite
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.12.21Earlshannonite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.12.22Hureaulite
(Mn,Fe)
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.12.23Switzerite
(Mn,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
19.12.24Laueite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.25Pseudolaueite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.26Strunzite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.12.27Stewartite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.28Alluaudite
(Na,Ca)Mn
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.12.29Ferroalluaudite
(Na,Ca)Fe
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.12.30Fillowite
{Mn
2+
 
}{Na
 
8
}{Ca
 
4
Na
 
4
}{(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
19.12.31Johnsomervilleite
{Ca}{Na
 
6
[ ]
 
2
}{Ca
 
6
Na
 
2
}{(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
19.12.32Wicksite
NaCa
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)
 
4
MgFe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.12.33Dickinsonite-(KMnNa)
{KNa}{Mn
2+
 
◻}{Ca}{Na
 
3
}{Mn
2+
13
}{Al}(PO
 
4
)
 
12
(OH)
 
2
19.12.34Sarcopside
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.12.35Ludlamite
(Fe,Mn,Mg)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.12.36Graftonite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.12.37Wilhelmvierlingite
CaMnFe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
19.12.38Fairfieldite
Ca
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.12.39Beusite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Ca,Mg)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.12.40Messelite
Ca
 
2
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.12.41Jahnsite-(CaMnFe)
{Ca}{Mn
2+
 
}{Fe
2+
2
}{Fe
3+
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.42Jahnsite-(CaMnMn)
{Ca}{Mn
2+
 
}{Mn
2+
2
}{Fe
3+
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.43Jahnsite-(CaMnMg)
{Ca}{Mn
2+
 
}{(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
}{Fe
3+
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.44Keckite
CaMn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
(H
 
2
O)
 
7
19.12.45Stanfieldite
Ca
 
7
Ca
 
2
Mg
 
9
(PO
 
4
)
 
12
19.12.46Laubmannite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)
 
3
Fe
3+
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
12
19.12.47Zodacite
Ca
 
4
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.12.48Hagendorfite
NaCaMn
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.12.49Maghagendorfite
NaMn(Mg,Fe,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.12.50Varulite
NaCaMn
2+
 
Mn
2+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.12.51Griphite
Na
 
4
Li
 
2
Ca
 
6
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
19
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
(F,OH)
 
8
19.12.52Attakolite
(Ca,Sr)Mn(Al,Fe)
 
4
(HPO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
4
19.12.53Arrojadite-(KFe)
{KNa}{Fe
2+
 
◻}{Ca}{Na
 
2
◻}{Fe
2+
13
}{Al}(PO
 
4
)
 
11
(HPO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
19.12.54Lun'okite
(Mn,Ca)(Mg,Fe,Mn)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
2
OH · 4H
 
2
O
19.12.55Eosphorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Al(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.12.56Ernstite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)Al(PO
 
4
)(OH,O)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.12.57Childrenite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.12.58Bobfergusonite
Na
 
2
Mn
 
5
FeAl(PO
 
4
)
 
6
19.12.59Qingheiite
NaMn
3+
 
Mg(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.12.60Whiteite-(CaFeMg)
{Ca}{(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)}{Mg
 
2
}{Al
 
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.61Whiteite-(CaMnMg)
{Ca}{Mn
2+
 
}{Mg
 
2
}{Al
 
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.62Whiteite-(MnFeMg)
{(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)}{(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)}{Mg
 
2
}{Al
 
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.63Rittmannite
{(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)}{Mn
2+
 
}{(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
}{(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
}(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.12.64Zanazziite
Ca
 
2
Mg
 
5
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.12.65Samuelsonite
(Ca,Ba)Ca
 
8
Fe
2+
2
Mn
2+
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
10
(OH)
 
2

Other Names for Niahite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-022
Other Languages:
German:Niahit
Japanese:ニアー石
Russian:Ниахит
Spanish:Niahita

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 Niahite

Reference List:

- +
Mineralogical Magazine (1983): 47: 79-80.

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 408.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR (1995) 342: 40.

Internet Links for Niahite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Niahite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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  • webminerals
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Fine and rare minerals from mintreasure.com
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Search for Niahite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
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  • Niahite specimens for sale - minfind.com
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    • Localities for Niahite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Chubu Region
        • Aichi Prefecture
          • Kita-Shidara-gun
            • Shidara-cho
    		Yamada collection (Crystal World, Japan); Nagashima et al (1984) Koubutsu-Gakkai Kou'en-Youshi, 96.
    Malaysia
     
    • Borneo Island
      • Sarawak
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1983): 47: 79-80.
    USA
     
    • New Jersey
      • Sussex Co.
        • Franklin Mining District
          • Ogdensburg
            • Sterling Hill
    		Dunn(1995):Pt5:674.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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