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Phurcalite

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Big Photo

Posey Mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan Co., Utah, USA
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 7H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow
Hardness:3
This page provides mineralogical data about Phurcalite.

Classification of Phurcalite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/E.07-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.EC.35

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
C : UO2:RO4 = 3:2
Dana 8th edition ID:42.4.7.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.11.17

19 : Phosphates
11 : Phosphates of U
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Type Occurrence of Phurcalite

Type Locality:Streuberg Quarry, Bergen, Bergen U deposit, Zobes-Bergen District, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1978

Physical Properties of Phurcalite

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Yellow
Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Phurcalite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic

Optical Data of Phurcalite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.690 nβ = 1.730 nγ = 1.749
2V:Measured: 68° , Calculated: 66°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.059

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

Chemical Properties of Phurcalite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O · 7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, P, U
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, P, U

Relationship of Phurcalite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.EC.05Françoisite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH) · 6H
 
2
O
8.EC.05Phuralumite
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 13H
 
2
O
8.EC.05Upalite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
8.EC.05Françoisite-(Ce)
(Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH) · 6H
 
2
O
8.EC.10Arsenuranylite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EC.10Dewindtite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.EC.10Kivuite
(Th,Ca,Pb)(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 7H
 
2
O
8.EC.10Phosphuranylite
(H
 
3
O)
 
3
KCa(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EC.10Yingjiangite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EC.10Renardite
8.EC.15Dumontite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.EC.15Hügelite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.EC.20Metavanmeersscheite
U
6+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.EC.20Vanmeersscheite
U
6+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.EC.20Arsenovanmeersscheite
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.EC.25Althupite
AlTh(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
5
O
 
2
 · 15H
 
2
O
8.EC.30Mundite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
3
 · 5.5H
 
2
O
8.EC.40Bergenite
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
9
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
O
 
6
 · 16H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.11.1Lermontovite
U(PO
 
4
)(OH) · H
 
2
O
19.11.2Metavanmeersscheite
U
6+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.11.3Vanmeersscheite
U
6+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.11.4Chernikovite
(H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.5Vyacheslavite
U(PO
 
4
)(OH) · nH
 
2
O
19.11.6Metanatroautunite
Na(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
) · 2-3H
 
2
O
19.11.7Yingjiangite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.8Meta-ankoleite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.9Uramphite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.10Torbernite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.11.11Metatorbernite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.12Saléeite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
19.11.13Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
19.11.14Meta-autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 6-8H
 
2
O
19.11.15Autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
19.11.16Pseudo-autunite
(H
 
3
O)
 
4
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.11.18Phosphuranylite
(H
 
3
O)
 
3
KCa(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.19Ulrichite
CaCu(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.11.20Bergenite
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
9
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
O
 
6
 · 16H
 
2
O
19.11.21Metauranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
19.11.22Uranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
19.11.23Ranunculite
HAl(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.11.24Triangulite
Al
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
5
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.11.25Mundite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
3
 · 5.5H
 
2
O
19.11.26Upalite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
19.11.27Furongite
Al
 
13
(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
13
(OH)
 
14
 · 58H
 
2
O
19.11.28Threadgoldite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.29Phuralumite
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 13H
 
2
O
19.11.30Moreauite
Al
 
3
(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 13H
 
2
O
19.11.31Sabugalite
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 16H
 
2
O
19.11.32Uranospathite
(Al,☐)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
F · 20(H
 
2
O,F)
19.11.33Althupite
AlTh(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
5
O
 
2
 · 15H
 
2
O
19.11.34Françoisite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH) · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.35Kivuite
(Th,Ca,Pb)(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
 · 7H
 
2
O
19.11.36Parsonsite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.11.37Dewindtite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.11.38Dumontite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.11.39Przhevalskite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.11.40Lehnerite
Mn
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.41Bassetite
Fe
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.42Vochtenite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH) · 12-13H
 
2
O

Other Names for Phurcalite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-040Nisaite
Other Languages:
German:Nisait
Phurcalit
Russian:Фуркалит
Spanish:Nisaita

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 Phurcalite

Reference List:

- +
Deliens, M. & P. Piret (1978): La phurcalite, Ca2(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 4 H2O, nouveau mineral.- Bulletin de Minéralogie: 101: 356-358.

American Mineralogist (1978): 63: 1283.

Piret, P. & Declercq, J.-P. (1978): Phurcalite. Acta Crystallogr. B34, 1677-1679.

American Mineralogist (1979): 64: 243.

Atencio, D., Neumann, R., Silva, A.J.G.C., and Mascarenhas, Y.P. (1991): Phurcalite from Perus, São Paulo, Brazil, and redetermination of its crystal structure. Canadian Mineralogist 29, 95-105.

American Mineralogist (1992): 77: 213.

Burns, P.C. (2005) U 6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.

Internet Links for Phurcalite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Phurcalite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Phurcalite

    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
     
    • Queensland
      • Mount Isa - Cloncurry area
        • Cloncurry District
    		Australian Journal of Mineralogy 9(1):48
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Millstatt lake ridge
        • Fresach
          • Laas
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    Brazil
     
    • São Paulo
      • São Paulo
    		Atencio, D.E.A. (1991). "Phurcalite from Perus Sao Paulo Brazil and redetermination of its crystal structure." Canadian Mineralogist, 29(1),pp:95-106.
    Chile
     
    • Atacama Region
      • Copiapó Province
        • Zapallar district
    		Roberto Bosi specimen
          • Los Azules area
    		A.Molina & M. Dini collections - based on analysis.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Shinkolobwe
    France
     
    • Limousin
      • Corrèze
        • Davignac
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV (1998), p. 48
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
    		Walenta (1994); Markl, G. & Slotta, C. (2011): Die Uranmineralien des Lagerstättenreviers Wittichen im mittleren Schwarzwald. Lapis 36 (3), 25-37; 54 (in German).
    • Bavaria
      • Lower Bavaria
        • Bavarian Forest
          • Waldkirchen
            • Oberfrauenwald
    		Florian Wrobel specimen
          • Zwiesel
    		http://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/Deutschland/Bayern/Niederbayern/Bayerischer%20Wald/Zwiesel/Pauliberg
    • Saxony
      • Vogtland
        • Zobes-Bergen District
          • Bergen U deposit
            • Bergen
    		M. Deliens & P. Piret (1978) Bulletin de Minéralogie 101, 356-358
    India
     
    • Rajasthan (Rajputana)
      • Udaipur Division
    		Saini, S. N.; Rahman, M.; Roy, M. K.; Singh, G. (2004): Uranium mineralisation in Lower Proterozoic basal quartzite of Putholi-Hamirgarh basin, Chittorgarh district, Rajasthan. Exploration and Research for Atomic Minerals 15, 147-153.
    Singh, Yamuna; Singh, K. D. P.; Bhatt, A. K. (1999): Phurcalite: a rare secondary calcium uranium phosphate mineral from Putholi, Chittaurgarh district, Rajasthan. Journal of the Geological Society of India 53, 355-357.
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
    		E. Schnaitmann, F. Brandstätter, U. Kolitsch and G. Niedermayr (2008): Die „Gitterquarz“-Paragenese aus dem Erongo, Namibia. Mineralien-Welt 20 (1), 55-63.
    Portugal
     
    • Portalegre District
      • Nisa
        • Lameira das Pedrinhas
    		Luis Casinhas collection
    UK
     
    • England
      • Devon
        • Dartmoor & Teign Valley District
          • Central Dartmoor
            • Princetown
    		Braitwaite, R., Paar, W., and Chisholm, J., 1989, Phurcalite from Dartmoor, Southwest England,and its Identity with 'Nisaite' from Portugal, Mineralogical Magazine, 53:583-589. Min.Rec.: 20(5):395.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Kern Co.
    		Braitwaite, R., Paar, W., and Chisholm, J., 1989, Phurcalite from Dartmoor, Southwest England,and its Identity with 'Nisaite' from Portugal, Mineralogical Magazine, 53:583-589.
        • Taft
    		Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 329.
    • Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		Tony Nikischer
    • Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • White Canyon District
          • Red Canyon
    		Min News 3:9 p5-6
    Mineral and/or Locality
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