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Phurcalite

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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
 
2
 · 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:1977

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
 
2
 · 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
H
 
2
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
4
 · 12H
 
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.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
)(H
 
2
O)
 
3
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
H
 
2
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
O
 
4
 · 12H
 
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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    • 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.
    Argentina
     
    • Catamarca
    		O. Morello y C. N. Reyes Encinas (1990). Estudio mineralógico de nueve muestras procedentes de la Sierra de Fiambalá, dpto. Tinogasta, Catamarca. Informe DEE N° 33-90, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Inédito.
    O. Morello y C. N. Reyes Encinas (1990). Estudio mineralógico de nueve muestras procedentes de la Sierra de Fiambalá, dpto. Tinogasta, Catamarca. Informe DEE N° 33-90, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Inédito.
    M. E. Saulnier y F. Greco (1988). Estudio mineralógico de cuatro muestras procedentes de la Manifestación Las Termas del área de Los Ratones, Fiambalá, Tinogasta, Catamarca. Informe DEE N° 1-88, Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Inédito.
    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
        • Tavistock District
          • Whitchurch
    		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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    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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