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Merrillite

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Formula:
Ca
 
9
NaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
7
System:TrigonalColour:colorless, white
Member of:Whitlockite Group
Name:Named for George P. Merrill (1854-1929), Curator of Geology, U.S. National Museum (Smithsonian Institution) by Wherry (1917)


Whitlockite Group. Mg-dominant analogue of Ferromerrillite.

Merrillite was revalidated as a valid species in 1976.
Merrill (1915) described the mineral from (at least) 4 meteorites, which may be considered type localities: Alfianello, Dhurmsala, Pultusk, Rich Mountain.

All reported non-terrestrial 'whitlockites' are actually merrillite.

Classification of Merrillite

IMA status:Approved 1976
Explanation of status:revalidated in 1976 (IMA 76-K) as not identical to whitlockite
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.05-55
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AC.45

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:38.3.4.4

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
3 : (AB)3(XO4)2
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Occurrences of Merrillite

Geological Setting:Stony meteorites.

Physical Properties of Merrillite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:colorless, white
Tenacity:Very brittle
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Hexagonal cleavage at times (indistinct).
Density (measured):3.1 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.88 g/cm3

Crystallography of Merrillite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3m - Ditrigonal Pyramidal
Space Group:R3m
Cell Parameters:a = 10.362Å, c = 37.106Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 3.581
Unit Cell Volume:V 3450.34 ų
Z:6

Optical Data of Merrillite

Type:Uniaxial (-)

Chemical Properties of Merrillite

Formula:
Ca
 
9
NaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
7
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Mg, Na, O, P

Relationship of Merrillite to other Species

Member of:Whitlockite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Bobdownsite
Ca
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(PO
 
3
F)
Ferromerrillite
Ca
 
9
NaFe
2+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
7
Strontiowhitlockite
Sr
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
Whitlockite
Ca
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AC.05Howardevansite
NaCuFe
 
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Alluaudite
(Na,Ca)Mn
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Arseniopleite
NaCaMn
2+
 
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Caryinite
(Na,Pb)(Ca,Na)(Ca,Mn
2+
 
)(Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Ferroalluaudite
(Na,Ca)Fe
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Hagendorfite
NaCaMn
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Johillerite
Na(Mg,Zn)
 
3
Cu(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Maghagendorfite
NaMn(Mg,Fe,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Nickenichite
Na
 
0.8
Ca
 
0.4
Cu
 
0.4
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Varulite
NaCaMn
2+
 
Mn
2+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Ferrohagendorfite
NaCaFe
2+
 
Fe
2+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Bradaczekite
NaCu
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.10Yazganite
NaFe
3+
2
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
8.AC.10Groatite
NaCaMn
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.15Bobfergusonite
Na
 
2
Mn
 
5
FeAl(PO
 
4
)
 
6
8.AC.15Ferrowyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.15Qingheiite
NaMn
3+
 
Mg(Al,Fe
3+
 
)(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.15Rosemaryite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.15Wyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.15Ferrorosemaryite
◻NaFe
2+
 
Fe
3+
 
Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.15Qingheiite-(Fe2+)
Na
 
2
Fe
2+
 
MgAl(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.18Manitobaite
Na
 
16
Mn
2+
 
 
25
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
30
8.AC.20Marićite
NaFe
2+
 
(PO
 
4
)
8.AC.25Berzeliite
NaCa
 
2
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.25Manganberzeliite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.25Palenzonaite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
CaMn
2+
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.25Schäferite
Ca
 
2
NaMg
 
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.30Brianite
Na
 
2
CaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.35Vitusite-(Ce)
Na
 
3
(Ce,La,Nd)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.40Olgite
(Sr,Ba)(Na,Sr,REE)
 
2
Na(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.40Bario-olgite
(Ba,Sr)(Na,Sr,REE)
 
2
Na(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 ·
8.AC.45Strontiowhitlockite
Sr
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
8.AC.45Whitlockite
Ca
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
8.AC.45Tuite
Ca
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.45Ferromerrillite
Ca
 
9
NaFe
2+
 
(PO
 
4
)
 
7
8.AC.45Bobdownsite
Ca
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(PO
 
3
F)
8.AC.50Chladniite
{Ca}{Na
 
8
}{Ca
 
4
Na
 
4
}{(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
8.AC.50Fillowite
{Mn
2+
 
}{Na
 
8
}{Ca
 
4
Na
 
4
}{(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
8.AC.50Johnsomervilleite
{Ca}{Na
 
6
[ ]
 
2
}{Ca
 
6
Na
 
2
}{(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
8.AC.50Galileiite
{Fe
2+
 
}{Na
 
8
}{Fe
2+
4
Na
 
4
}{Fe
2+
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
8.AC.50Stornesite-(Y)
{(Y, Ca)}{Na
 
6
◻
 
2
}{(Ca,Na)
 
8
}{(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
43
}(PO
 
4
)
 
36
8.AC.50Xenophyllite
Na
 
4
Fe
2+
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
8.AC.55Harrisonite
Ca(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.60Kosnarite
KZr
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
8.AC.65Panethite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AC.70Stanfieldite
Ca
 
7
Ca
 
2
Mg
 
9
(PO
 
4
)
 
12
8.AC.75Ronneburgite
K
 
2
MnV
 
4
O
 
12
8.AC.80Tillmannsite
(Ag
 
3
Hg)(VO
 
4
,AsO
 
4
)
8.AC.85Filatovite
K(Al,Zn)
 
2
(As,Si)
 
2
O
 
8

Other Names for Merrillite

Synonyms:
Merrillite-(Na)
Other Languages:
German:Merrillit
Spanish:Merrillita

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 Merrillite

Reference List:

- +
Tschermak, G. (1883): Sitzber. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math-naturw. K1.88, Abt. 1: 347-371.

Merrill, G.P. (1915): On the monticellite-like mineral in meteorites, and on oldhamite as a meteoritic constituent. Proceedings National Academy of Sciences, 1, 302-308. [as "monticellite-like mineral"]

Merrill, G.P. (1917): American Journal of Science: 43: 322.

Wherry, E.T. (1917): American Mineralogist: 2: 119. [first use of name merrillite]

Shannon and Larsen (1925): American Journal of Science: 9: 250.

Barnes (1940): University of Texas Publication 3945: 623.

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.: 797.

Fuchs, L.H. (1962): Science: 137: 425-426.

Mason, B. (1971): Mineralogical Record: 2: 277-279.

Dowty, E. (1977): Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 35: 347-351.

Hughes,John M., Bradley L. Jolliff, and Mickey E. Gunter (2006): The atomic arrangement of merrillite from the Fra Mauro Formation, Apollo 14 lunar mission: The first structure of merrillite from the Moon. American Mineralogist, 91, 1547-1552.

Jolliff, B.L., Hughes, J.M., Freeman, J.J., Zeigler, R.A. (2006): Crystal chemistry of lunar merrillite and comparison to other meteoritic and planetary suites of whitlockite and merrillite. American Mineralogist, 91, 1583-1595.

Internet Links for Merrillite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    • Localities for Merrillite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Algeria
     
    www.meteoriticalsociety.org/bulletin/mb89preview.pdf.
    Suporn Boonsuea & John Spraya (2012) Shock-Induced Phase Transformations in Melt Pockets within Martian Meteorite NWA 4468. Spectroscopy Letters: An International Journal for Rapid Communication 45:127-134.
    • Sahara Desert
      • Lakhbi
    		www.meteoriticalsociety.org/bulletin/mb88.pdf.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • American Highland
        • Grove Mts
    		YT Lin, Lu Feng, Sen Hu (2011) High Pressure Mineral Assemblages in the Lherzolitic Shergottite Grove Mountains (GRV) 020090. Japan Geooscience Union Meeting Makuhari, Chiba Japan.
    Meyer, C. (2001) Mars Meteorite Compendium: XXIV-1-2.
      • Transantarctic Mts
        • Pecora Escarpment
          • LaPaz Ice Field
    		http://aaa.wustl.edu/Work/pub_files/lap02205.html
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
      • Martinho Campos
        • Ibitira
    		Lunar & Planetary Science 30, #1908 (1999)
    Canada
     
    • Alberta
      • Peace River
    		Canadian Mineralogist Vol. 21, pp. 29-35 (1983)
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Pierre-De Saurel RCM
          • Saint-Robert
    		http://castaing.eps.mcgill.ca/meteoriteposter/poster.html.
    • Saskatchewan
      • Springwater
    		http://miac.uqac.ca/MIAC/iron.htm
    China
     
    • Guangdong Province
      • Shaoguan Prefecture
        • Wengyuan Co.
    		M. Chen and X. Xie, Eur. J. Mineral. , 1996, 8, pp. 325-333.
    • Hubei Province
      • Suizhou Prefecture
        • Sui Co.
          • Xihe
    		X. Xie, M. Minetti, M. Chen, H. Mao, D. Wang, J. Shu & Y. Fei (2003): Eur. Journ. Mineral. 15, 1001-1005
    • Jiangsu Province
      • Taizhou Prefecture
        • Gaogang District
          • Sixiangkou
    		Lunar and Planetary Science, volume 27, page 1373
    Czech Republic
     
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Moravia-Silesia Region
        • Frýdek-Místek
          • Moravka
    		Borovička, J., Weber, H. W., Jopek, T., Jakeš, P., Brown, P. G., ReVelle, D. O., Kalenda, P., Schultz, L., Kučera, J., Haloda, J., Týcová, P., Frýda, J., Brandstätter, F. (2003): The Morávka meteorite fall. 3. Meteoriod initial size, history, structure, and composition. Meteoritics, 38, 1005-1021.
    Finland
     
    • Southern Finland Region
      • Porvoo
        • Bjurböle
    		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: 797.
    France
     
    • Midi-Pyrénées
      • Orgueil
    		Am Min (1964) 49:1730-1736
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Drôme
        • Romans-sur-Isère
          • Saint-Jean-en-Royans
    		M. Christophe Michel-Lévy, Bull. Minéral. , 1987, 110, pp. 449-4
    India
     
    • Uttar Pradesh
    		Lauretta, Dante S., Peter R. Buseck, and Thomas J. Zega (2001) Opaque minerals in the matrix of the Bishunpur (LL3.1) chondrite: constraints on the chondrule formation environment. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 65(8)(15 April 2001): 1337-1353.
    Libya
     
    • Al Jufrah District
      • Dar al Gani
    		Meteoritical Bulletin 84 (Aug.2000)
    Mexico
     
    • Chihuahua
      • Pueblito de Allende
    		LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE XV, P. 699-700. Abstract.
    Morocco
     
    • Guelmim-Es Semara Region
      • Tata Province
    		Irving, A.J. et. al, 2012 The Tissint DepeltedPermafic Olivine-Phyric Shergottite: Petrologic, Elemental, and Isotopic Characterization of a Recent Martian Fall in Morocco. 43rd LPSC #2510
    • Meknès-Tafilalet Region
      • Er Rachidia Province
        • Erfoud (Erfud)
    		V. Moggi-Cecchi et al., 2005
    The Meteoritical Bulletin, n.94 - http://www.meteoriticalsociety.org/simple_template.cfm?code=pub_bulletin
    Meteoritical Bulletin 86: July, 2002
    ref.: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20030212c.html.
    www2.jpl.nasa.gov/snc/news51.html
    Oman
     
    • Dhofar (Al Janubiyah) Province
    		The Meteoritical Bulletin,
    The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 88, 2004
    • Sayh al Uhaymir
    		MPS 37,835(2002)
    The Meteoritical Bulletin, Vol 87
    Poland
     
    • Mazowieckie
      • Warszawa
    		Manecki, 2001. in Geological Quarterly Vol. 45-03 (Polish Geological Institute)
    Spain
     
    • Andalusia
      • Granada
    		AM 54 (1969), 14;
    Switzerland
     
    • Vaud (Waadt)
      • Oron-la-Ville
        • Châtillens
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Verlag Wepf & Co. (Basel), p. 500
    The Moon
    Mineralogical Record: 1: 22.
    • Fra Mauro Highlands
    		American Mineralogist: 91: 1547-1552.
    Ukraine
     
    • Mykolayiv (Nikolajev; Nikolayev; Nikolaev) Oblast'
    		Semenenko, V.P. and A.L. Girich (1994) Mineralogy of a fragment in the unique graphite-containing Krymka chondrite (LL3): MM: 59: 396-443. www.minersoc.org/pages/Archive-MM/Volume_59/59-396-443.pdf
    • Zakarpats'ka Oblast' (Transcarpathian Oblasť; Zakarpattia)
      • Velykobereznyanskyi Raion
        • Knyahynya
    		Mason B. & Wikk H. B. (1963): The Composition of the Richardton, Estacado, and Knyahinya Meteorites. Amer. Mus. Novitates, 2154, 1-18.
    USA
     
    • Kansas
      • Mitchell Co.
        • Waconda
          • Unnamed ravine
    		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: 797.
    • Kentucky
      • Carroll Co.
    		www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2003/pdf/5007.pdf.
    • Michigan
      • Allegan Co.
        • Allegan
          • Thomas 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: 797.
    • Ohio
      • Clark Co.
        • Springfield
    		www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2000/pdf/5135.pdf.
    • Texas
      • Kimble Co.
    		Barnes (1940) University of Texas Publication 3945: 623; 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: 797.
    • Virginia
      • Mecklenburg Co.
    		Minerals of Virginia 1990 by R. V. Dietrich
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