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Stercorite

Formula:
NaNH
 
4
HPO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Colourless (artificial ...
Hardness:2
Name:From Latin "Stercus", dung, allunding to its discovery in guano.
This page provides mineralogical data about Stercorite.

Classification of Stercorite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CJ.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:39.3.1.1

39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.1.6

19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
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Type Occurrence of Stercorite

Type Locality:Ichaboe Island, Lüderitz District, Karas Region, Namibia
Year of Discovery:1850

Physical Properties of Stercorite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless (artificial material); white, pale yellow, brownish; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2
Cleavage:None Observed
Density (measured):1.615 g/cm3
Comment:1.574 (artificial material).

Crystallography of Stercorite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 6.92Å, b = 10.61Å, c = 6.43Å
α = 98.29°, β = 90.42°, γ = 71.16°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.652 : 1 : 0.606
Unit Cell Volume:V 441.75 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals short prismatic (artificial); Pseudo-monoclinc. Crystalline masses and nodules (natural).
Twinning:Repeated twinning of triclinic individuals on {010} simulates monoclinic symmetry. Reentrant angles are usually lacking.

Optical Data of Stercorite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.439 nβ = 1.442 nγ = 1.469
2V:Measured: 35° , Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.030

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

Chemical Properties of Stercorite

Formula:
NaNH
 
4
HPO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, N, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, N, Na, O, P

Relationship of Stercorite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CJ.10Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Swaknoite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nabaphite
NaBaPO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nastrophite
Na(Sr,Ba)PO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.20Haidingerite
Ca[HAsO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.25Vladimirite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.30Ferrarisite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.30Guérinite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.35Machatschkiite
(Ca,Na)
 
6
AsO
 
4
(AsO
 
3
OH)
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·15H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Phaunouxite
Ca
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Rauenthalite
Ca
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Brockite
(Ca,Th,Ce)(PO
 
4
)·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Grayite
(Th,Pb,Ca)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·1-2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Ce)
(Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(La)
(La,Ce)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Tristramite
(Ca,U,Fe)(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Smirnovskite
(Th,Ca)PO
 
4
 ·nH
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Ardealite
Ca
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Brushite
CaHPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Y)
YPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Pharmacolite
CaHAsO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Nd)
NdPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.55Mcnearite
NaCa
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.60Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
(PO
 
3
OH)·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Sincosite
CaV
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Bariosincosite
Ba(V
4+
 
O)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.70Catalanoite
Na
 
2
[HPO
 
4
] · 8H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.1.1Lithiophosphate
Li
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.2Olympite
Na
 
5
Li[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.1.3Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
19.1.4Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
(PO
 
3
OH)·2H
 
2
O
19.1.5Nalipoite
NaLi
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.7Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)[H
 
2
PO
 
4
]
19.1.8Biphosphammite
(NH
 
4
,K)H
 
2
PO
 
4
19.1.9Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
HPO
 
4
19.1.10Lithiophilite
LiMn
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.11Sicklerite
(LiMn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
19.1.12Ferrisicklerite
(Fe
3+
 
,LiMn
2+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
19.1.13Triphylite
LiFe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
19.1.14Tavorite
LiFe
3+
 
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.1.15Marićite
NaFe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]

Other Names for Stercorite

Synonyms:
Microcosmic SaltNative Salt of Phosphorus
Other Languages:
German:Phosphorsalz
Stercorit
Russian:Стеркорит
Spanish:Estercorrita
Stercorita

Other Information

Other Information:Melting point 79°. Soluble in water
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 Stercorite

Reference List:Herapath (1850) Quarterly Journal of the Chemical Society, London: 2: 70.

Schaschek (1914) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 32: 402.

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.: 698-699.

Acta Crystallographica (1974): B30: 504.

Articles/Blogs about Stercorite

Internet Links for Stercorite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Stercorite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Stercorite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Stercorite

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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.
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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.
    Antarctica
    AmMin 36:361-367
    AmMin 36:361-367
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • Corangamite Shire
        • Skipton
          • Mt. Widderin (Anderson's Hill)
    • Western Australia
      • Eucla
        • Madura Motel
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1977): 41: 33-35.
    Chile
     
    • Tarapacá Region
      • Iquique Province
        • Iquique
          • Puerta Patillos
    		http://forum.amiminerals.org/viewtopic.php?t=3756&highlight=patache
    Namibia
     
    • Karas Region
      • Lüderitz District
    		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; Anthony, J.W. , R.A. Bideaux, K.W. Bladh, M.C. Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV (2000)
    Peru
     
    • La Libertad Department
    		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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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