Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (6 online) Mindat Auctions

Swaknoite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:White
Hardness:1½ - 2
Name:The name derives from the acronym SWAKNO, for the Suid West Afrika Karst Navorsing Organisatsie (Namibia), a speleological association whose members noted the presence of a wide variety of minerals in the Arnhem cave (type locality).
Dimorph of:Mundrabillaite
This page provides mineralogical data about Swaknoite.

Classification of Swaknoite

IMA status:Approved 1991
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.23-65
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CJ.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:39.3.4.1

39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : Miscellaneous
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3842.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Swaknoite

Type Locality:Arnhem Cave, Windhoek District, Khomas Region, Namibia
General Appearance of Type Material:White coatings comprised of needle-like crystals up to 1 mm long and up to 10 μm wide, commonly grouped as rosettes.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:State Museum, Windhoek, Namibia, and in the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, South Africa.
Year of Discovery:1991
Geological Setting of type material:Cave with dolomite walls.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
MundrabillaiteDolomiteDittmariteArcanite

Physical Properties of Swaknoite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Tenacity:Brittle
Density (measured):1.91 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.89 g/cm3

Crystallography of Swaknoite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 20.95Å, b = 7.4Å, c = 6.47Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.831 : 1 : 0.874
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,003.04 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals are elongate [001] and exhibit {110}, (100), {111}, and possibly {001}. Needle-like crystals up to 1 mm long and up to 10 μm wide, commonly grouped as rosettes.

Optical Data of Swaknoite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.506 nβ = 1.510 nγ = 1.512
2V:Measured: 65° to 70°, Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.006

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 Swaknoite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, N, O, P

Relationship of Swaknoite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CJ.05Stercorite
NaNH
 
4
HPO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Mundrabillaite
(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

Other Names for Swaknoite

Synonyms:
IMA1991-021
Other Languages:
German:Swaknoit
Spanish:Swaknoita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in H2O.
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 Swaknoite

Reference List:Martini, J.E.J. (1992) Swaknoite [Ca(NH4)2·(HPO4)2·H2O, orthorhombic]: A new mineral from Arnhem cave, Namibia. Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 32: 72-74.

Jambor, John L and Puziewicz, Jacek (1993) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist: 78: 1108-1112.

New Minerals (1997), New Minerals 1990-1994.

Articles/Blogs about Swaknoite

Internet Links for Swaknoite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Swaknoite on Google
  • Look for Swaknoite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Swaknoite on Webmineral
  • Look for Swaknoite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Swaknoite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Swaknoite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Swaknoite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Swaknoite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Search for Swaknoite on minvision.com
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Swaknoite specimens
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Swaknoite

    (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.
    Namibia
     
    • Khomas Region
      • Windhoek District
    		Martini, J.E.J. (1992) Swaknoite [Ca(NH4)2·(HPO4)2·H2O, orthorhombic]: A new mineral from Arnhem cave, Namibia. Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association: 32: 72-74.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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.