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Perhamite

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Big Photo

Emmons Quarry (Uncle Tom Mountain Quarry), Uncle Tom Mountain, Greenwood, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
© Dick Dionne

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Formula:
Ca
 
3
Al
 
7.7
Si
 
3
P
 
4
O
 
23.5
(OH)
 
14.1
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless, white, light ...
Hardness:5
Member of:Perhamite Group
Name:
Named for Frank Croydon Perham (b. 1934).


Structurally related to crandallite but not a member of the Crandallite Group.

Visually similar to various crandallite-group minerals and iangreyite. See also krásnoite, the fluorophosphate analogue of perhamite.


Classification of Perhamite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/J.20-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DO.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
O : With CO3, SO4, SiO4
Dana 8th edition ID:43.5.10.1

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
5 : Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:17.6.2

17 : Silicates Containing other Anions
6 : Silicates with phosphate
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Type Occurrence of Perhamite

Co-type Localities:Bell Pit (Bell Quarry), Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
Dunton Gem Quarry, Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Rosettes of pseudo-hexagonal plates; also earthy.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:National History Museum, London - 1976,424; Smithsonian 135740
Year of Discovery:1977
Geological Setting of type material:Originally from late stage mineralization in granite pegmatite. Subsequently found in oxidized zones of ore deposits.

Physical Properties of Perhamite

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Vitreous on cleavage
Colour:Colourless, white, light brown, orange
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5
Tenacity:Very brittle
Cleavage:Imperfect/Fair
Imperfect on {0001}
Density (measured):2.64 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.53 g/cm3

Crystallography of Perhamite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:P3m1 {P3 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.021Å, c = 20.218Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.88
Unit Cell Volume:V 863.11 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Spherulitic masses of platy crystals.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
6.71 (40)
6.08 (50)
5.80 (70)
3.51 (50)
3.12 (50)
3.01 (40)
2.88 (100)
1.76 (50)

Optical Data of Perhamite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.564() nε = 1.577(4)
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.013

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

Chemical Properties of Perhamite

Formula:
Ca
 
3
Al
 
7.7
Si
 
3
P
 
4
O
 
23.5
(OH)
 
14.1
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, O, P, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, O, P, Si
Common Impurities:Ti,Fe,Mg,Na,F

Relationship of Perhamite to other Species

Member of:Perhamite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Krásnoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
7.7
Si
 
3
P
 
4
O
 
23.5
(OH)
 
12.1
F
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
Chemically related to group(s):
Crandallite Subgroup
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DO.05Girvasite
NaCa
 
2
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DO.10Voggite
Na
 
2
Zr(PO
 
4
)(CO
 
3
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
8.DO.15Peisleyite
Na
 
2
Al
 
9
[(P,S)O
 
4
]
 
8
(OH)
 
6
•28H
 
2
O
8.DO.20Krásnoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
7.7
Si
 
3
P
 
4
O
 
23.5
(OH)
 
12.1
F
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DO.25Saryarkite-(Y)
Ca(Y,Th)Al
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
7
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DO.30Micheelsenite
(Ca,Y)
 
3
Al(HPO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.DO.40Parwanite
(Na,K)(Mg,Ca)
 
4
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
7
 · 30H
 
2
O
8.DO.45Skorpionite
Ca
 
3
Zn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
17.6.1Nagelschmidtite
Ca
 
7
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
17.6.3Viséite
17.6.4Phosinaite
17.6.5Clinophosinaite
Na
 
12
(Ca,Sr)
 
4
(Si
 
4
O
 
12
)(PO
 
4
)
 
4
17.6.6Karnasurtite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Th)(Ti,Nb)(Al,Fe)(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
17.6.7Lomonosovite
Na
 
5
Ti
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)(PO
 
4
)O
 
2
17.6.8Bornemanite
Na
 
6
BaTi
 
2
Nb(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)O
 
2
(OH)F
17.6.9Sobolevite
Na
 
13
Ca
 
2
Mn
 
2
Ti
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
3
F
 
3
17.6.10Laplandite-(Ce)
Na
 
4
CeTiPO
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
18
 · 5H
 
2
O
17.6.11 Vunonnemite
Na
 
5
TiNb
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
25
F
 
2
 · 2Na
 
3
PO
 
4
17.6.12Saryarkite-(Y)
Ca(Y,Th)Al
 
5
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
7
 · 6H
 
2
O
17.6.13Steenstrupine-(Ce)
Na
 
14
Mn
2+
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)
 
2
Ce
 
6
(Zr,Th)(Si
 
6
O
 
18
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
17.6.14Waylandite
BiAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
17.6.15Britholite-(Ce)
Ca
 
2
(Ce,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
17.6.16Britholite-(Y)
Ca
 
2
(Y,Ca)
 
3
(SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH,F)
17.6.17Eylettersite
(Th,Pb)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SiO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6

Other Names for Perhamite

Synonyms:
IMA1975-019
Other Languages:
German:Perhamit
Spanish:Perhamita

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 Perhamite

Reference List:

- +
Dunn, P. and Appleman, D. (1977): Perhamite, a new calcium aluminum silico-phosphate mineral and a re-examination of viseite. Mineralogical Magazine 41, 437-442.

American Mineralogist (1978): 63: 794.

Mills, S. J. (2003): A note on perhamite from the Moculta (Klemms) phosphate quarry, South Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy, 9 (1), 43–5.

Mills, S., Mumme, G., Grey, I. and Bordet, P. (2006): The crystal structure of perhamite. Mineralogical Magazine 70, 201-209.

Internet Links for Perhamite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Perhamite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Perhamite

    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
     
    • South Australia
      • Mt Lofty Ranges
        • North Mt Lofty Ranges
          • Barossa Valley
            • Angaston
    		Mills, S. J. (2003): A note on perhamite from the Moculta (Klemms) phosphate quarry, South Australia. Austral. J. Mineral. 9, 43-45.
    Mills, S. J. (2003): A note on perhamite from the Moculta (Klemms) phosphate quarry, South Australia. Austral. J. Mineral. 9, 43-45.
          • Kapunda
    		Mills, S. J. (2003): A note on perhamite from the Moculta (Klemms) phosphate quarry, South Australia. Austral. J. Mineral. 9, 43-45.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Millstatt lake ridge
        • Spittal
          • Millstatt lake
    		Niedermayr, G. & Brandstätter, F. (2005)
          • Wolfsberg
    		H.Wippel, Spittal
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Aš (Asch)
    		Breiter K., Škoda R., Veselovský F.: Neobvyklý P-, Li- a Sn-bohatý pegmatit z Vernéřova u Aše, Česká republika. Bulletin Mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2009, roč. 17, č. 1, s. 41-59.
      • South Bohemia Region
        • Písek
    		Sejkora J., Cícha J., Jebavá I.: Minerální asociace fosfátů z Čížové u Písku (Česká republika). Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2011, 19, 1, 1-26.
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Allier
        • Ébreuil
          • Échassières
    		Kolitsch, U., Gröbner, J. & Brandstätter, F. (2009): Neufunde von Les Montmins, Allier, Frankreich. Lapis 34 (11), 24-32; 54 (in German).
    Germany
     
    • North Rhine-Westphalia
      • Sauerland
        • Sundern
          • Hellefeld
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    USA
     
    • Arkansas
      • Pike Co.
    		Roberts, A.C. et al (2003), The Canadian Mineralogist: 41(3): 721-725.
    • Maine
      • Oxford Co.
        • Greenwood
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 2000, Mineralogy of Maine, volume 2.
          • Uncle Tom Mountain
    		Rocks and Minerals (1980) 55:209-213; Mineral News (1991) 7:3 pp6,7,10
        • Newry
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1; King, V. (ed.), 2000, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 2.
    Mineralogical Magazine 41,437-442(1977)
        • West Paris
    		King, V.T. (2000) Mineralogy of Maine; Volume 2: Mining History, Gems & Geology, Maine Geological Survey
    • Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Iron Point District
          • Valmy
    		Dr. William S. Wise presentation to Northwest Micro Mineral Study Group on 1 May 2004, Update on Mineralogy of the Silver Coin Mine, Iron Point District, Edna Mountains, Humboldt Co., Nevada
    • Utah
      • Box Elder Co.
        • Pilot Range
          • Lucin District
            • Lucin
              • Utahlite Hill
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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