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Schertelite

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Skipton Caves (Skipton lava caves; Mt Widderin Caves), Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill), Skipton, Corangamite Shire, Victoria, Australia
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
MgH
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless
Name:Named after Arnulf Schertel, Professor of Mineralogy (1841-1902), Freiberg Mining Academy, Saxony, Germany.


A phosphate mineral found in bat guano deposits.

Classification of Schertelite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CH.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:39.3.2.1

39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : Miscellaneous
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Type Occurrence of Schertelite

Type Locality:Skipton Caves (Skipton lava caves; Mt Widderin Caves), Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill), Skipton, Corangamite Shire, Victoria, Australia
Year of Discovery:1902

Physical Properties of Schertelite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless

Crystallography of Schertelite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.47Å, b = 23.63Å, c = 8.62Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.485 : 1 : 0.365
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,336.33 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals small, indistinct, flat.

Optical Data of Schertelite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.508 nβ = 1.515 nγ = 1.523
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.015

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 Schertelite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
MgH
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, N, O, P

Relationship of Schertelite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.CH.05Walentaite
H(Ca,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Fe
3+
3
[(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)]
 
4
 · 7H
 
2
O
8.CH.10Anapaite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.CH.15Picropharmacolite
Ca
 
4
Mg[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 11H
 
2
O
8.CH.20Dittmarite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CH.20Niahite
(NH
 
4
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)[PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.CH.25Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
[(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.CH.25Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
OH·9H
 
2
O
8.CH.35Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O
8.CH.40Struvite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
8.CH.40Struvite-K
KMg(PO
 
4
)·6H
 
2
O
8.CH.45Rimkorolgite
(Mg,Mn)
 
5
(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O
8.CH.50Bakhchisaraitsevite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
8.CH.55Fahleite
Zn
 
5
CaFe
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
6
·14H
 
2
O
8.CH.55Smolyaninovite
8.CH.55Smolianinovite
(Co,Ni,Mg,Ca)
 
3
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
·11H
 
2
O
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Al)
(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
12
Al
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH,Cl)
 
x
·nH
 
2
O
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Fe)
(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
12
Fe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH,Cl)
 
x
·nH
 
2
O

Other Names for Schertelite

Synonyms:
MeulleriteMuelleriteMüllerite (of McIvor)
German names:
MeulleritMuelleritSchertelit
Russian names:
Шертелит
Spanish names:
MeulleritaMuelleritaSchertelita

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 Schertelite

Reference List:MacIvor (1887) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 55: 215 (as Muellerite).

MacIvor (1902) Chemical News and Journal of Industrial Science, London: 85: 181 (as Muellerite).

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 699.

Acta Crystallographica: B2: 683-693.

American Mineralogist (1963): 48: 635-641.

Acta Crystallographica (1976): B32: 2842.

Internet Links for Schertelite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Schertelite

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    (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
     
    • Victoria
      • Corangamite Shire
        • Skipton
          • Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill)
    		Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 699; Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"; Mineralogical Magazine (1903): 376, 699.
    South Africa
     
    • Gauteng Province
      • Johannesburg
    Mineral and/or Locality
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