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Archerite

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Petrogale Cave, Madura Roadhouse, Dundas Shire, Western Australia, Australia
© 2008, JGW

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Formula:
(K,NH
 
4
)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
System:TetragonalColour:White
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:Named in 1977 for Michael Archer [March 25 1945 Sydney, Australia- ], professor of Biology, University of New South Wales, Australia who drew attention to the deposit.
Isostructural with:Biphosphammite
This page provides mineralogical data about Archerite.

Classification of Archerite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.12-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AD.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:37.1.4.2
Dana 8th edition ID:37.1.4.2

37 : ANHYDROUS ACID PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.1.7

19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
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Type Occurrence of Archerite

Type Locality:Petrogale Cave, Madura Roadhouse, Dundas Shire, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1977
Geological Setting of type material:Guano deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WhitlockiteWhitlockiteWhitlockiteWeddelliteSyngenite
StercoriteHaliteBiphosphammiteAphthitalite

Occurrences of Archerite

Geological Setting:Guano deposits

Physical Properties of Archerite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Waxy, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:White
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (calculated):2.23 g/cm3
Comment:Ranges to 2.34

Crystallography of Archerite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4 2m - Scalenohedral
Space Group:I4 2d
Space Group Setting:I4 2d
Cell Parameters:a = 7.451Å, c = 6.974Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.936
Unit Cell Volume:V 387.18 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Prismatic crystals with pyramids.
Comment:Ranges a 7.453, b 6.972
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.09 (10)
3.72 (100)
3.01 (10)
2.91 (80)
2.64 (20)
2.34 (10)
1.982 (10)
1.953 (50)
Comments:ICDD 35-807, also 20-203

Optical Data of Archerite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.511 - 1.513 nε = 1.468 - 1.470
Birefringence:0.041
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.043

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

Chemical Properties of Archerite

Formula:
(K,NH
 
4
)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
Essential elements:H, K, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, K, N, O, P

Relationship of Archerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AD.05Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
8.AD.10Monetite
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
8.AD.10Weilite
Ca(HAsO
 
4
)
8.AD.10Švenekite
Ca(H
 
2
AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AD.15Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
8.AD.20Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
8.AD.25Buchwaldite
NaCa(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.30Schultenite
Pb(HAsO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Chernovite-(Y)
Y(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Dreyerite
Bi(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Ce)
Ce(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Y)
Y(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Y)
Y(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Pretulite
Sc(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Yb)
(Yb,Y,HREE)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(La)
La(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.40Pucherite
Bi(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.45Ximengite
Bi(PO
 
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
Bi(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Cheralite
(Ca,Ce)(Th,Ce)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AD.50Monazite-(Sm)
(Sm,Gd,Ce,Th)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh
(Th,Ca)(VO
 
4
,SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
8.AD.55Tetrarooseveltite
Bi(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.60Chursinite
(Hg
+
2
)
 
0.5
Hg
2+
 
(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.65Clinobisvanite
Bi(VO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.1.1Lithiophosphate
Li
 
3
PO
 
4
19.1.2Olympite
Na
 
5
Li(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.1.3Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
19.1.4Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.1.5Nalipoite
NaLi
 
2
PO
 
4
19.1.6Stercorite
Na(NH
 
4
)HPO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.1.8Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
19.1.9Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
19.1.10Lithiophilite
LiMn
2+
 
PO
 
4
19.1.11Sicklerite
LiMn
2+
 
PO
 
4
19.1.12Ferrisicklerite
Li
 
1-x
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)PO
 
4
19.1.13Triphylite
LiFe
2+
 
PO
 
4
19.1.14Tavorite
LiFe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.1.15Marićite
NaFe
2+
 
(PO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
37.1.4.1Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)

Other Names for Archerite

Synonyms:
IMA1975-008
Other Languages:
German:Archerit
Russian:Арчерит
Spanish:Archerita

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 Archerite

Reference List:

- +
Bridge, P.J. (1977) Archerite, (K,NH4)H2PO4, a new mineral from Madura, Western Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 41, 33-35.

Fleischer, M., Pabst, A., Mandarino, J.A., Chao, G.Y. (1977) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 62, 1057-1061.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 74: 306-332.

Internet Links for Archerite

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    • Localities for Archerite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Dundas Shire
        • Cocklebiddy Roadhouse
    		R Bottrill collection
    Min. Mag. 39,467-469(1973)
        • Madura Roadhouse
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1977): 41: 33-35.
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
    		[AmMin 84:193]
    Saudi Arabia
     
    • Mintaqah Makkah
    		Saudi Geological Survey Open-File Report SGS-OF-2004-12, 68 p.
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