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Phosphofibrite

Big Photo

Silver Coin Mine, Valmy, Iron Point District, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
© JM 2006

Formula:
[K
 
<0.5
(H
 
2
O)
 
3
][(Fe
3+
 
,Cu)
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
7
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Yellow to yellowish green
Hardness:4
Name:Name for the composition (phosphate) and the fibrous habit.


See also meurigite-K and meurigite-Na.

Classification of Phosphofibrite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Explanation of status:Valid. Appears to differ from the later described meurigite (see Kolitsch, 1999, and Kampf et al., 2007). Nomenclatorial implications complicated.
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.38-10
Strunz 9th edition ID:8.DJ.20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DJ.20

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
J : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.13.14.3

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.2.14

19 : Phosphates
2 : Phosphates of Cu
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Type Occurrence of Phosphofibrite

Type Locality:Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Year of Discovery:1984

Physical Properties of Phosphofibrite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Yellow to yellowish green
Hardness (Mohs):4

Crystallography of Phosphofibrite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 29.02Å, b = 5.20Å, c = 19.72Å
β = 107.04°
Ratio:a:b:c = 5.581 : 1 : 3.792
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,845.19 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Comment:Space group C2/c; refined from powder diffraction film data; originally assumed to be orthorhombic, space group Pbmn or Pnmn.

Optical Data of Phosphofibrite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.755 nγ = 1.790
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.035

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

Chemical Properties of Phosphofibrite

Formula:
[K
 
<0.5
(H
 
2
O)
 
3
][(Fe
3+
 
,Cu)
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
7
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
]
Essential elements:Cu, Fe, H, K, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Cu, Fe, H, K, O, P

Relationship of Phosphofibrite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DJ.05Johnwalkite
K(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(Nb
5+
 
,Ta
5+
 
)[O|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.DJ.05Olmsteadite
KFe
2+
2
(Nb
5+
 
,Ta
5+
 
)[O|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DJ.10Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.DJ.15Camgasite
CaMg[OH|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DJ.20Meurigite-K
[K(H
 
2
O)
 
2.5
][Fe
3+
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
7
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
]
8.DJ.20Meurigite-Na
[Na(H
 
2
O)
 
2.5
][Fe
3+
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
7
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
]
8.DJ.25Jungite
Ca
 
2
Zn
 
4
Fe
3+
8
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
9
 · 16H
 
2
O
8.DJ.30Wycheproofite
NaAlZr[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.DJ.35Ercitite
Na
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
[Mn
3+
2
(OH)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
8.DJ.40Mrázekite
Bi
 
2
Cu
 
3
[O|OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.DJ.45Attikaite
Ca
 
3
Cu
 
2
Al
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
4
(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.2.1Libethenite
Cu
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.2.2Cornetite
Cu
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
19.2.3Reichenbachite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.4Ludjibaite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.5Pseudomalachite
Cu
 
5
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.6Nissonite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.2.7Zapatalite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.8Turquoise
Cu(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.2.9Sieleckiite
Cu
 
3
Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.2.10Planerite
Al
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4 H
 
2
O
19.2.11Hentschelite
CuFe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.2.13Chalcosiderite
Cu(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Phosphofibrite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-082
Other Languages:
German:Phosphofibrit
Italian:Fosfofibrite

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 Phosphofibrite

Reference List:Walenta, K. & Dunn, P. J. (1984): Phosphofibrit, ein neues Eisenphosphat aus der Grube Clara im mittleren Schwarzwald (BRD). Chem. Erde, 43, 11-16. (in German).

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 1192.

Kolitsch, U. (1999): Evidence for the identity of meurigite and phosphofibrite by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. European Journal of Mineralogy: 11, Beih. no.1, 132.

Kampf, A. R., J.J. Pluth, & Y. Chen (2007): The crystal structure of meurigite. American Mineralogist 92, 1518-1524.

A. R. Kampf and U. Kolitsch (2008): The relationship between phosphofibrite and meurigite. M&M6, 6th Intern. Conf. on Mineralogy & Museums, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA, September 7-9, 2008; Program and Abstract Volume, 26.

A. R. Kampf, P. M. Adams, U. Kolitsch and I. M. Steele (2009): Meurigite-Na, a new species, and the relationship between phosphofibrite and meurigite. Am. Mineral. 94, 720-727.

Internet Links for Phosphofibrite

Search Engines:
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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Phosphofibrite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Phosphofibrite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Phosphofibrite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		Chemie der Erde,(1984) 43, 11-16; Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp. (in German); WALENTA, K. (1997): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara 7. Folge. - Lapis 22 (11), 37-47.
    USA
     
    • Nevada
      • Eureka Co.
        • Lynn District
          • Elko
    		MinRecord 26:467
        • Maggie Creek District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Iron Point District
          • Valmy
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Mexico
      • Grant Co.
    		Northrup, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    Mineral and/or Locality
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