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Birchite

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Broken Hill, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia

Formula:
Cd
 
2
Cu
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)·5H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:pale blue
Hardness:3½ - 4
Name:
For William David "Bill" Birch, AM (1949-). Bill obtained his PhD in the Department of Geology at the University of Melbourne in 1976 and commenced work at the National Museum of Victoria (now Museum Victoria), as Curator with responsibilities for developing the mineral, rock and meteorite collections, a position he still holds (in 2009). He has co-described thirty new mineral species and has over 150 publications to his credit. These range from popular articles and booklets accessible to members of the general public with an interest in the geosciences, to major papers involving international mineralogical collaboration.

He has had active involvment in a number of societies such as: the Mineralogical Society of Victoria (founding President), the Gemmological Association of Australia (as present patron), the Geological Society of Australia, the Royal Society of Victoria (he is a member of Council), and the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (Australian representative 1984-1996 and Secretary 1996-2008).

In June 2006 he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to geological science, particularly through the study and documentation of the geology of Victoria, and to a range of professional
organisations."



One of several rare Cd minerals occurring at Broken Hill, NSW, Australia.

Classification of Birchite

IMA status:Approved 2006
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DB.70

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:43.3.3.

43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
3 : Hydrated Normal Compound Phosphates, etc·
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Type Occurrence of Birchite

Type Locality:Broken Hill, Yancowinna Co., New South Wales, Australia
General Appearance of Type Material:sprays and aggregates to crystals to 0.75mm. Individual crystals are bladed to prismatic and acicular, with a max. length of 0.3mm and width of 0.05mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Department of Mineralogy of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, australia (registration number G30968)
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SampleiteQuartzPyromorphitePlumbogummiteLibethenite
HinsdaliteGarnet GroupGalenaCovelliteChalcopyrite
CerussiteApatite-(CaF)Anglesite

Physical Properties of Birchite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:pale blue
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4
Hardness Data:Measured
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.61(4) g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.647 g/cm3

Crystallography of Birchite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pnma {P21/n 21/m 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.489(6) Å, b = 20.901(7) Å, c = 6.155(5) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.502 : 1 : 0.294
Unit Cell Volume:V 1349.6 ų
Z:4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
10.451 (100)
5.146(30)
4.223 (40)
3.484 (40)
2.902 (70)
2.719 (30)
2.652 (30)
1.919 (80)

Optical Data of Birchite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.624(4) nβ = 1.636(5) nγ = 1.669(4)
2V:Calculated: 63°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.045

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

Chemical Properties of Birchite

Formula:
Cd
 
2
Cu
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(SO
 
4
)·5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cd, Cu, H, O, P, S
All elements listed in formula:Cd, Cu, H, O, P, S

Relationship of Birchite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.DB.05Diadochite
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)(SO
 
4
)(OH)·5H
 
2
O
8.DB.05Pitticite
[Fe, SO
 
4
, AsO
 
4
, H
 
2
O] ?
8.DB.05Destinezite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]·6H
 
2
O
8.DB.10Vashegyite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
9
] · 38H
 
2
O
8.DB.15Schoonerite
ZnMn
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.DB.20Sinkankasite
H
 
2
Mn
2+
 
Al[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6H
 
2
O
8.DB.25Mitryaevaite
Al
 
6
(PO
 
4
)[(P,S)O
 
3
(OH,O)]
 
2
F
 
2
(OH)
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
8
· 6.5H
 
2
O
8.DB.30Sanjuanite
Al
 
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|PO
 
4
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.DB.35Sarmientite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DB.40Bukovskýite
Fe
3+
2
[OH|SO
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DB.45Zýkaite
Fe
3+
4
[OH|SO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 15H
 
2
O
8.DB.50Giniite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DB.55Sasaite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
14
[(OH)
 
7
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
11
] · 83H
 
2
O
8.DB.60Mcauslanite
HFe
2+
3
Al
 
2
[F|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 18H
 
2
O
8.DB.65Goldquarryite
CuCd
 
2
Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
F
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
10
(H
 
2
O,F)
 
2
8.DB.75Braithwaiteite
NaCu
 
5
(TiSb)
 
2
O
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)[AsO
 
3
(OH)]
 
2
 ·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Birchite

Synonyms:
IMA2006-048
Other Languages:
German:Birchit
Spanish:Birchita

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 Birchite

Reference List:P. Elliott, J. Brugger, A. Pring, M. L. Cole, A. C. Willis and U. Kolitsch (2008): Birchite, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia: description and structure refinement. Am. Mineral. 93, 910-917(2008)

Internet Links for Birchite

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    Localities for Birchite

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    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.
    Australia
     
    • New South Wales
      • Yancowinna Co.
    		P. Elliott, J. Brugger, A. Pring, M. L. Cole, A. C. Willis and U. Kolitsch (2008): Birchite, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia: description and structure refinement. Am. Mineral. 93, 910-917.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 1st Nov 2009 19:55:22