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Phosphammite

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Guañape Island, Virù, Trujillo Province, La Libertad Department, Peru
© 2008, JGW




Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
System:MonoclinicColour:White
Hardness:1
Name:Named in 1870 by Charles Upham Shepard for the mineral's chemistry: a PHOSPHate of AMMonium
This page provides mineralogical data about Phosphammite.

Classification of Phosphammite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.12-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AD.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:37.1.3.1
Dana 8th edition ID:37.1.3.1

37 : ANHYDROUS ACID PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.1.9

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

Type Locality:Earles Find, Toppin Hill, Western Australia, Australia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Western Australian Museum, Perth, Australia (neotype)
Year of Discovery:1870
Geological Setting of type material:guano deposit

Occurrences of Phosphammite

Geological Setting:guano deposits

Physical Properties of Phosphammite

Lustre:Dull, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Comment:Due to fine-grained mineral.
Colour:White
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1
Comment:Due to fine-grained mineral.
Tenacity:Brittle
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):1.62 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.61 g/cm3

Crystallography of Phosphammite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Space Group Setting:P21/c
Cell Parameters:a = 8.03Å, b = 6.68Å, c = 11.02Å
β = 113.6°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.202 : 1 : 1.65
Unit Cell Volume:V 541.68 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Comment:AC 10:709 (1957)
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.57 (75)
5.05 (100)
4.94 (65)
4.13 (40)
3.78 (50)
3.22 (65)
3.14 (45)
3.06 (45)
(
Comments:Synthetic (ICDD 29-0111); also 9-391.

Optical Data of Phosphammite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.508 nβ = 1.518 nγ = 1.530
2V:Measured: 80° to 85°, Calculated: 85°
Birefringence:0.022
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 Phosphammite

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

Relationship of Phosphammite to other Species

Common Associates:
Ammonium-AphthitaliteUreaWeddellite
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.15Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
8.AD.15Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
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
19.1.7Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
19.1.8Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
19.1.10Lithiophilite
LiMn
2+
 
PO
 
4
19.1.11Sicklerite
(LiMn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)PO
 
4
19.1.12Ferrisicklerite
(Fe
3+
 
,LiMn
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
)

Other Names for Phosphammite

Synonyms:
Phosphammonite
Other Languages:
German:Phosphammit
Phosphammonit
Italian:Fosfammite

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 Phosphammite

Reference List:

- +
Bridge, P.J.: "Urea, a new mineral, and neotype phosphammite from Western Australia":Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39: 346-348.

Smith, J.P., L.R.Lehr, & W.E. Brown: (1957): "Crystallographic properties of diammonium phosphate": Acta Cryst:10:709.

Internet Links for Phosphammite

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

    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
      • Lake Rason
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39: 346-348.
      • Toppin Hill
    		Min.Mag.(1973) 39, 346-348
    Peru
     
    • La Libertad Department
      • Trujillo Province
        • Virù
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39, 346-348.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. 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. Current server date and time: 20th Jun 2011 16:58:29
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