Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Mineral Chatroom The Mindat Store

Biphosphammite

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Big Photo

Petrogale Cave, Madura Motel, Eucla, Western Australia, Australia
© 2008, JGW

Show Biphosphammite Photos (2)



Formula:
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
System:TetragonalColour:White, pale yellow or ...
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:Named in 1870 by Charles Upham Shepard for the chemical composition containing phosphate and ammonium.
Isostructural with:Archerite
This page provides mineralogical data about Biphosphammite.

Classification of Biphosphammite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.12-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AD.15

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:37.1.4.1
Dana 8th edition ID:37.1.4.1

37 : ANHYDROUS ACID PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.1.8

19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-678.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Biphosphammite

Type Locality:Murra-el-elevyn Cave, Eucla, Nullarbor Plain, Western Australia, Australia
Year of Discovery:1870
Geological Setting of type material:Guano deposits

Occurrences of Biphosphammite

Geological Setting:Guano caves

Physical Properties of Biphosphammite

Lustre:Waxy, Dull, Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Comment:Due to fine-grained material
Colour:White, pale yellow or colorless; colorless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.04 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.99 g/cm3
Comment:Also calculated = 1.80

Crystallography of Biphosphammite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4 2 2 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:I41 2 2
Space Group Setting:I41 2 2
Cell Parameters:a = 7.494Å, c = 7.340Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.979
Unit Cell Volume:V 412.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Fine-grained granular crust.
Comment:AC B 29:2721 (1973); Also a 7.502, c 7.554
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.32 (100)
3.75 (60)
3.08 (90)
3.07 (90)
2.66 (20)
2.65 (20)
2.02 (40)
2.01 (40)
Comments:ICDD 37-1479; also 6-125, 29-74.

Optical Data of Biphosphammite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.525 nε = 1.480
Birefringence:0.045
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.045

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Optical Extinction:parallel
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Biphosphammite

Formula:
(NH
 
4
,K)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
Essential elements:H, N, O, P
All elements listed in formula:H, K, N, O, P

Relationship of Biphosphammite to other Species

Common Associates:
UreaPhosphammiteWeddelliteAmmonium-Aphthitalite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AD.05Nahpoite
Na
 
2
HPO
 
4
8.AD.10Monetite
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
8.AD.10Weilite
Ca(HAsO
 
4
)
8.AD.10Švenekite
Ca(H
 
2
AsO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AD.15Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)
8.AD.20Phosphammite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
8.AD.25Buchwaldite
NaCa(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.30Schultenite
Pb(HAsO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Chernovite-(Y)
Y(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Dreyerite
Bi(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Ce)
Ce(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(Y)
Y(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Y)
Y(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Pretulite
Sc(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Xenotime-(Yb)
(Yb,Y,HREE)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.35Wakefieldite-(La)
La(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.40Pucherite
Bi(VO
 
4
)
8.AD.45Ximengite
Bi(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Gasparite-(Ce)
(Ce,REE)(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Monazite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd,Th)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Monazite-(La)
(La,Ce,Nd)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Monazite-(Nd)
(Nd,La,Ce)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Rooseveltite
Bi(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.50Cheralite
(Ca,Ce)(Th,Ce)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AD.50Monazite-(Sm)
(Sm,Gd,Ce,Th)(PO
 
4
)
8.AD.50UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh
(Th,Ca)(VO
 
4
,SiO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
8.AD.55Tetrarooseveltite
Bi(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.60Chursinite
(Hg
+
2
)
 
0.5
Hg
2+
 
(AsO
 
4
)
8.AD.65Clinobisvanite
Bi(VO
 
4
)
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
HPO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.1.5Nalipoite
NaLi
 
2
PO
 
4
19.1.6Stercorite
Na(NH
 
4
)HPO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.1.7Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)(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+
 
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.1.15Marićite
NaFe
2+
 
(PO
 
4
)
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping):

- +
37.1.4.2Archerite
(K,NH
 
4
)(H
 
2
PO
 
4
)

Other Names for Biphosphammite

Other Languages:
German:Biphosphammit
Russian:Бифосфаммит
Spanish:Biphosphammita

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 Biphosphammite

Reference List:

- +
Acta Crystallographica B29 (1973): 2721-2732.

Internet Links for Biphosphammite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Biphosphammite on Google
  • Look for Biphosphammite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Biphosphammite on Webmineral
  • Look for Biphosphammite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Biphosphammite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Biphosphammite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Search for minerals at Heliodor
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Edwards Minerals - Fine Specimens
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Pricedownminerals.com - Reverse Auctions and Shop
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Localities for Biphosphammite

    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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Eucla
        • Madura Motel
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1974): 39: 889.-890.
    Mineralogical Magazine (1977): 41: 33-35.
      • Nullarbor Plain
        • Eucla
    		Min.Mag.(1972) 38, 965-967
    Botswana
     
    • North-West District
      • Ngamiland West District
    		Handbook of Mineralogy - Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols
    Peru
     
    • La Libertad Department
      • Trujillo Province
        • Virù
    		C U Sheppard (1870) Rural Carolinian, 1,471
    Saudi Arabia
     
    • Mintaqah Makkah
    		Saudi Geological Survey Open-File Report SGS-OF-2004-12, 68 p.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Search Google
     
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2011. 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. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 21st Jun 2011 05:59:27
    Mineral and Locality Search
    Mineral:
    and/or Locality:
    Options
    Fade toolbar when not in focusFix toolbar to bottom of page
    Hide Social Media Links
    Slideshow frame delay seconds