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Berlinite

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Hålsjöberg (Horrsjöberg), Torsby, Värmland, Sweden
© Alan Goldstein

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Formula:
Al[PO
 
4
]
System:TrigonalColour:Colourless, greyish or ...
Hardness:6½
Name:Honouring Professor Nils Johan Berlin (1812-1891), pharmacologist in the University of Lund, Sweden.
This page provides mineralogical data about Berlinite.

Classification of Berlinite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.01-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AA.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)
Dana 8th edition ID:38.4.2.1

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.7.1

19 : Phosphates
7 : Phosphates of Al alone
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Type Occurrence of Berlinite

Type Locality:Västanå Iron Mine (Westanå Mine), Näsum, Bromölla, Skåne, Sweden
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland; II-9574.

Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; 101252
Year of Discovery:1868
Associated Minerals at type locality:
AugeliteAttakolite

Physical Properties of Berlinite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Colourless, greyish or pale pink; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):6½
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.64 - 2.66 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.618 g/cm3
Comment:2.56 (artificial material).

Crystallography of Berlinite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:P31 2 1
Cell Parameters:a = 4.941Å, c = 10.94Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.214
Unit Cell Volume:V 231.30 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:3
Morphology:Crystals similar to quartz. Granules to 6 mm; massive.
Twinning:subparallel twinning lamellae
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.369 (100)
4.28 (25)
1.835 (16)
2.471 (12)
2.306 (12)
1.393 (12)

Optical Data of Berlinite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.524 nε = 1.532
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.008

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

Chemical Properties of Berlinite

Formula:
Al[PO
 
4
]
Essential elements:Al, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, O, P
Common Impurities:Fe,Si

Relationship of Berlinite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AA.05Alarsite
Al[AsO
 
4
]
8.AA.05Rodolicoite
Fe
3+
 
[PO
 
4
]
8.AA.10Beryllonite
NaBe[PO
 
4
]
8.AA.15Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
8.AA.20Lithiophosphate
Li
 
3
[PO
 
4
]
8.AA.25Nalipoite
NaLi
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
8.AA.30Olympite
Na
 
5
Li[PO
 
4
]
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.7.2Augelite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
19.7.3Trolleite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
19.7.4Senegalite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
19.7.5Variscite
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
19.7.6Metavariscite
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
19.7.7Bolivarite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · 4-5H
 
2
O
19.7.8Wavellite
Al
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
19.7.9Evansite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.7.10Vantasselite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
19.7.11Kingite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
19.7.12Vashegyite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
9
] · 38H
 
2
O

Other Names for Berlinite

Other Languages:
German:Berlinit
Russian:Берлинит
Spanish:Berlinita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:may fluoresce dark red
Thermal Behaviour:Exhibits the same thermal inversions as SiO2, but at somewhat lower temperatures.

Readily soluble in alkalies; virtually insoluble in cold acids.
Other Information:Inverts at 583° to a polymorph isotypic with β-SiO2.
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 Berlinite

Reference List:Blomstrand (1868) Svenska Vetenskapsakademien, Stockholm, Handlingar, Öfv.: 25: 198.

Blomstrand (1868) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 105: 338.

Huttenlocher (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 90: 508-516.

Strunz (1941) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 103: 228.

Beck (1949) Journal of the American Ceramic Society: 32: 147.

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.: 696-697.

Internet Links for Berlinite

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    Localities for Berlinite

    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.
    (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
     
    • Australian Capital Territory
      • Brindabella Mts
        • Cotter
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV
    • Queensland
      • Bundaberg
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV
    Brazil
     
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Doce valley
          • Galiléia
            • Sapucaia do Norte
    		Cassedanne, J.P. & Baptista, A. (1999): Famous Mineral Localities: The Sapucaia Pegmatite Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Record, 30: 347-360 + 365
        • Jequitinhonha valley
          • Itinga
            • Taquaral
              • Piauí Valley
    		Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
    		Reif, J., Rezek, K., Zachař, Z.: Berlinit AlPO4 ze sulfidického ložiska Zlaté Hory - západ. Časopis pro mineralogii a geologii, 1989, roč. 34, č. 4, s. 363-372.
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Oberpfälzer Wald
          • Mitterteich
            • Wiesau
    		Pöllmann, H., (1990): Mineralparagenesen im Nephelinbasanit von Triebendorf/ Opf., Der Aufschluss, Vol. 41(4), 219-226
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Ehrenfriedersdorf
    		Thomas, R., and Webster, J.D. (2000): Mineralium Deposita 35, 570-582.
    Madagascar
     
    • Fianarantsoa Province
      • Amoron'i Mania Region
        • Ambatofinandrahana District
          • Itremo massif
    		Ackermand et al.(2006): "Lazulite-bearing metaquartzite of the Itremo Group (Central Madagascar); Scientific significance and economic importance" in Proceedings of the Malagasy-German Research Cooperation in Life and Earth sciences, 5-18
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		Onac, B.P., Breban, R., Kearns, J., and Tamas, T. (2002) Unusual minerals related to phosphate deposits in Cioclovina Cave, Şureanu Mts. (Romania). Theoretical and Applied Karstology: 15: 27-34.; Am. Min., 88, 1395–1397 (2003) ; Am. Min. 90,1203-1208 (2005); Am. Min. 92,1998-2001(2007)
    Rwanda
     
    • Western Province
      • Gatumba District
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV; Mineralogical Magazine 1963 33 : 613-615
    F. Hatert, P. Lefèvre, A.M. Fransolet, M.R. Spirlet, F. Fontan, P. Keller : "Ferrorosemaryite, []NaFe2+Fe3+Al(PO4)3, a new phosphate mineral from the Rubindi pegmatite, Rwanda", Bull. Liaison S.F.M.C., Vol. 16, 2004, pp 44-45.
    Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Girona (Gerona)
        • Alt Empordà
          • Cadaqués
    		Bareche, E. (2005) "Els minerals de Catalunya. Segle XX" Ed. Museu Mollfulleda de Mineralogia - Grup Mineralògic Català, 269 p.
    Sweden
     
    • Skåne
      • Bromölla
        • Näsum
    		Blomstrand, C. W. (1868): Om Vestanå Mineralier. Öfversigt af Kongliga Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar 25 (3), 197-212; 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: 697, 872, 910.
    • Värmland
      • Torsby
    		Grensman, F. (1989): Hålsjøberg- En fyndortsbeskrivning. NAGS-nytt 16(3), 24-27
    Switzerland
     
    • Wallis (Valais)
      • Zermatt - Saas Fee area
        • Matt Valley
          • Stalden
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Verlag Wepf & Co. (Basel), p. 72
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Gila Co.
        • Globe-Miami District
          • Miami-Inspiration District
            • Inspiration
              • Miami-Inspiration deposit
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 132.
    • Maine
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, volume 1.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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