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Struvite

Big Photo

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

Show Struvite Photos (5)
Formula:
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless, white ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:1½ - 2
Name:Named after Heinrich Christian Gottfried Struve (1722-1851) of the Russian diplomatic service, Consul at Hamburg (Germany).
Isostructural with:Struvite-K


The magnesium analogue of Struvite-K.

A mineral also commonly found as a product of organic decay in putrescent matter, canned foods or other bacterial action on organic compounds, and as a constituent of human kidney and bladder stones in alkaline and infected urines.

Classification of Struvite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CH.40

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:40.1.1.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : AB(XO4)·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.3.23

19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Struvite

Type Locality:St Nikolai church, Hamburg, Germany
Year of Discovery:1846
Geological Setting of type material:Mediaeval sewers

Occurrences of Struvite

Geological Setting:Guano or dung deposits; peat beds; organically rich sediments.

Physical Properties of Struvite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, white (dehydrated), yellow or brownish, light gray; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {001}, good; on {100}, poor.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):1.711 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.705 g/cm3

Crystallography of Struvite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:a = 6.94Å, b = 11.2Å, c = 6.13Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.62 : 1 : 0.547
Unit Cell Volume:V 476.47 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals equant; wedge-shaped (due to large and unequally developed {101} and {10_1}), of coffin-shaped (when viewed along [100]; short prismatic [001], [010], or [100]; thick tabular {100}. The distribution of the pyramidal or domical faces is often irregular. Crystals commonly distinct, to 1 inch (2.5 cm), with a distinct hemimorphic habit.
Twinning:On {001}. The acute poles of [001] unite in the composition plane {001}, with deep re-entrant angles.
Crystal Atlas:
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Struvite no.36 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Struvite no.47 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Struvite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.495 nβ = 1.496 nγ = 1.504
2V:Measured: 37° , Calculated: 40°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.009

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

Chemical Properties of Struvite

Formula:
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, Mg, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, N, O, P

Relationship of Struvite 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.30Schertelite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
MgH
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CH.35Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
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
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.3.1Moraesite
Be
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.2Beryllonite
NaBe[PO
 
4
]
19.3.3Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.4Hydroxylherderite
CaBe[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.5Glucine
CaBe
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
19.3.6Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.7Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.3.9Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
·38H
 
2
O
19.3.10Tiptopite
K
 
2
(Na,Ca)
 
2
Li
 
3
Be
 
6
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.3.11Gainesite
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
19.3.12Roscherite
Ca(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
5
Be
 
4
[(OH)
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
6
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.13Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·6H
 
2
O
19.3.14Farringtonite
Mg
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.15Holtedahlite
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
19.3.16Althausite
Mg
 
2
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
19.3.17Newberyite
MgHPO
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
19.3.18Phosphorrösslerite
MgHPO
 
4
·7H
 
2
O
19.3.19Bobierrite
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.20Barićite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
19.3.21Panethite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.3.22Dittmarite
NH
 
4
MgPO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
19.3.24Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Struvite

Synonyms:
GuaniteStruveite
German names:
GuanitStruveitStruvit
Russian names:
Струвит
Spanish names:
GuanitaStruveitaStruvita

Other Information

Electrical:Pyroelectric. Piezoelectric.
Other Information:Readily soluble in acids. Very slightly 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 Struvite

Reference List:Ulex (1845) Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm, Handlingar [Ak. Stockholm, Öfv.]: 3: 32 (as Struveit).

Teschemacher (1846) Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: 28: 546 (as Guanite).

Ulex (1846) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 58: 99 (as Struveit).

Hausmann, J.F.L. (1847) Handbuch der Mineralogie 3 volumes, Göttingen. Second edition: vol. 2, in two parts.

Ulex (1848) Annalen der Physik, Halle, Leipzig: 66: 41 (as Struveit).

Ulex (1851) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Heidelberg, Stuttgart: 51.

Pittman (1870) Contributions to the Minerals of Victoria: 56.

Sadebeck (1877) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 113.

Kalkowsky (1886) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 11: 1.

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

Robinson (1889) Proceedings of the Cambridge Philosophical Society: 6: 360.

Arzruni (1890) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 18: 60.

Goldschmidt, V. (1890-91) Index der Krystallformen der Mineralien. 3 volumes: vol. 3, 420p.: 167.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 806.

Hoffmann (1901) American Journal of Science: 11: 149.

de Schulten (1903) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 26: 95.

Bøggild (1907) Meddelelser Dansk. Geol. For.: 13: 25.

Goldschmidt, V. (1922) Atlas der Krystallformen. 9 volumes, atlas, and text: vol. 8: 95.

Palache, C. (1923) American Mineralogist: 8: 72.

Porter (1924) American Mineralogist: 9: 93.

Hintze, Carl (1933) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4A]: 1201.

Ayres (1942) American Mineralogist: 27: 387.

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.: 715-717.

Acta Crystallographica: B26: 1429-1440.

Acta Crystallographica (1986): B42: 253.

Internet Links for Struvite

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    Localities for Struvite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    Australia
     
    • Tasmania
      • Bass Strait
    		http://www.crocoite.com/locationbulletins/part1/zeolites.pdf
      • Southern Islands
    		Bottrill & Baker (in prep) Catalogue of minerals of Tasmania
    • 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, 716.
      • Warrnambool
    Canada
     
    • Newfoundland and Labrador
      • Newfoundland
        • Indian River
    • Québec
      • Rouville Co.
        • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		No reference listed
    • Yukon Territory
    		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: 710.
    Denmark
     
    • Himmerland
      • Aalborg Amt
        • Limfjorden
    		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: 716.
    Falkland Islands
    [Specimens in the Natural History Museum, London]
    [Specimens in the Natural History Museum, London]
    Germany
     
    • Hamburg
    		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: 716.
    • Hesse
      • Taunus Mts
    		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: 716.
    • Lower Saxony
      • Lüneburg
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Kosovo
     
    • Kosovska Mitrovica
      • Trepča valley
        • Trepča complex
    		Féraud J. (1979) - La mine " Stari-Trg " (Trepca, Yougoslavie) et ses richesses minéralogiques. Avec la collaboration de Mari D. et G. (1979) Minéraux et Fossiles, n° 59-60, p. 19-28
    Malaysia
     
    • Borneo
      • Sarawak
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1983): 47: 79-80.
    Namibia
     
    • Karas Region
      • Lüderitz District
    		J.W. Anthony, R.A. Bideaux, K.W. Bladh, M.C. Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV (2000)
    Netherlands
     
    • Noord-Holland
      • Amsterdam
    		geonieuws-1982-07-144
    Réunion Island
    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: 716.
    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: 716.
    South Africa
     
    No reference listed
    • Western Cape Province
      • Saldanha Bay
    		Minerals of South Africa
    USA
     
    • California
      • Mono Co.
        • Mono Lake
    • Colorado
      • Chaffee Co.
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    • Maine
      • Oxford Co.
        • Rumford
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, v. 1.
    Venezuela
     
    • Miranda
    		Urbani, 1997. Bol. Soc. Venezolana de Espeleología, no.30.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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