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Spheniscidite

Big Photo

Kerch peninsula (Kertch peninsula), Crimea peninsula, Crimea Oblast', Ukraine
© Maurice de Graaf

Show Spheniscidite Photos (2)
Formula:
(NH
 
4
,K)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Brown
Hardness:1 - 1½
Name:From "sphenisciformes", the order name for the penguins of Elephant Island, British Antarctic Territory, Antarctica, the discovery locality.


Leucophosphite Group.

The ammonium analogue of leucophosphite.

Classification of Spheniscidite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.27-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DH.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 < 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.11.6.3

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.14.8

19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Spheniscidite

Type Locality:Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, Western Antarctica, Antarctica
Year of Discovery:1986

Physical Properties of Spheniscidite

Lustre:Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent on thin edges
Colour:Brown
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 1½

Crystallography of Spheniscidite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.75Å, b = 9.63Å, c = 9.7Å
β = 102.57°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.012 : 1 : 1.007
Unit Cell Volume:V 888.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Spheniscidite

Type:Biaxial
Dispersion:relatively weak

Chemical Properties of Spheniscidite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
,K)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Fe, H, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Fe, H, K, N, O, P

Relationship of Spheniscidite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.DH.05Minyulite
KAl
 
2
[(OH,F)|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DH.10Leucophosphite
KFe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.10Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(CaMnFe)
CaMn
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(CaMnMg)
CaMn
2+
 
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(CaMnMn)
CaMn
2+
 
Mn
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Keckite
(Ca,Mg)(Mn
2+
 
,Zn)
 
2
Fe
3+
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Rittmannite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)Mn
2+
 
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Whiteite-(CaFeMg)
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Whiteite-(CaMnMg)
CaMn
2+
 
Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Whiteite-(MnFeMg)
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Mg
 
2
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(MnMnMn)
Mn
2+
 
Mn
2+
 
Mn
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
](OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Kaluginite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)MgFe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(CaFeFe)
CaFeFe
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(NaFeMg)
NaFe
3+
 
Mg
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(NaMnMg)
NaMnMg
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.15Jahnsite-(CaMgMg)
CaMgMg
 
2
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.20Manganosegelerite
(Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DH.20Overite
CaMgAl[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DH.20Segelerite
Ca
 
2
 Mg
 
2
 Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DH.20Wilhelmvierlingite
CaMnFe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.20Juonniite
CaMgSc(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)·4H
 
2
O
8.DH.25Calcioferrite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DH.25Kingsmountite
Ca
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.DH.25Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.DH.25Zodacite
Ca
 
4
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
8.DH.30Arseniosiderite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[O
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DH.30Kolfanite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[O
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.30Mitridatite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[O
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DH.30Pararobertsite
Ca
 
2
Mn
3+
3
[O
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DH.30Robertsite
Ca
 
3
Mn
3+
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DH.30Sailaufite
Ca
 
2
Mn
3+
3
[O|CO
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DH.35Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 15H
 
2
O
8.DH.35Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O
8.DH.35Benyacarite
(H
 
2
O,K)
 
2
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Ti)
 
2
Ti[(O,F)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 14H
 
2
O
8.DH.40Xanthoxenite
Ca
 
4
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DH.45Mahnertite
NaCu
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
Cl · 5H
 
2
O
8.DH.50Andyrobertsite
KCdCu
 
5
[H
 
2
AsO4|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.50Calcioandyrobertsite
KCaCu
 
5
[H
 
2
AsO
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
8.DH.55Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
8.DH.60Bouazzerite
Bi
 
6
(Mg,Co)
 
11
Fe
3+
14
(AsO
 
4
)
 
18
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
(H
 
2
O)
 
86
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.14.1Cyrilovite
NaFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.2Kidwellite
NaFe
3+
9
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.14.3Rosemaryite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.4Wyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.5Ferrowyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.6Natrodufrénite
NaFe
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.7Leucophosphite
KFe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.9Burangaite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
5
[(OH,O)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.10Satterlyite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH,O)|PO
 
4
]
19.14.11Ushkovite
MgFe
3+
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.12Garyansellite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)·1.5H
 
2
O
19.14.13Thadeuite
Ca(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.14Anapaite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.14.15Xanthoxenite
Ca
 
4
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.16Calcioferrite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 7H
 
2
O
19.14.17Mitridatite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[O
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.18Mélonjosephite
CaFe
2+
 
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.14.19Delvauxite
CaFe
 
4
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
·4-6H
 
2
O not confirmed·
19.14.20Collinsite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.21Segelerite
Ca
 
2
 Mg
 
2
 Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.22Kingsmountite
Ca
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.14.23Vauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.14.24Metavauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.25Paravauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.26Sigloite
Fe
3+
 
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
19.14.27Cacoxenite
Fe
3+
24
Al[(OH)
 
12
|O
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
17
] · 17H
 
2
O
19.14.28Koninckite
Fe
3+
 
[PO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.29Lazulite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.30Scorzalite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.31Souzalite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.32Gormanite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.33Zaïrite
Bi(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]

Other Names for Spheniscidite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-029
German names:
Spheniscidit
Russian names:
Сфенисцидит
Spanish names:
Spheniscidita

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 Spheniscidite

Reference List:Mineralogical Magazine (1986): 50: 291-293.

American Mineralogist (1987): 72: 1027.

Acta Crystallographica (1994): C50(9): 1379-1381.

Internet Links for Spheniscidite

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    Localities for Spheniscidite

    (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.
    Antarctica
     
    • Western Antarctica
      • Antarctic Peninsula
        • South Shetland Islands
    		Min.Mag.(1986) 50, 291-293
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Southern Islands
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    Ukraine
     
    • Crimea Oblast'
      • Crimea peninsula
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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