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Churchite-(Dy)

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Formula:
(Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicLustre:Vitreous
Hardness:3
Name:Named for Arthur Hubert Church (1834-1915), English chemist who described and analyzed the mineral.


Almost certainly misidentified churchite-(Y).

Walenta (1995) states in his description of churchite minerals from the Black Forest: "An Seltenen Erden sind Dy, Sm, Gd und Nd vertreten, Y ist dagegen nur in sehr geringen Mengen nachweisbar. Es ist also kein Churchit-(Y), sondern am ehesten ein Churchit-(Dy)". [The name was published without approval; no quantitative data were given.]

No modern quantitative chemical analyses of Walenta's (1995) sample are available, but a re-analysis of a "churchite-(Dy)" from Menzenschwand, Black Forest, clearly showed it to be a churchite-(Y) containing very minor Gd and Dy (Kolitsch & Brandstätter, unpubl. results, 2010).
In SEM-EDS spectra there might be a problem of overlap of the Dy L(alpha1+2) lines with the Fe K(alpha) line (the partial Y/P peak overlap is another serious problem for correct quantification - if the Y peaks have been recognised as such!).

Compare also the questionable Agardite-(Dy).


Classification of Churchite-(Dy)

IMA status:Published without Approval
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.25-50

7 : Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates
C : Water-bearing phosphates without unfamiliar anions. cations of medium and small size: Be and Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg
25 : Brushite - Churchite-(Dy) series
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Physical Properties of Churchite-(Dy)

Lustre:Vitreous
Hardness (Mohs):3

Crystallography of Churchite-(Dy)

Crystal System:Monoclinic

Chemical Properties of Churchite-(Dy)

Formula:
(Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Dy, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Dy, Gd, H, Nd, O, P, Sm

Relationship of Churchite-(Dy) to other Species

Related Minerals - Strunz Grouping):

- +
7/C.25-10Brushite
Ca(HPO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
7/C.25-20Pharmacolite
Ca(HAsO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
7/C.25-30Churchite-(Y)
Y(PO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
7/C.25-40Churchite-(Nd)
Nd(PO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O

Other Names for Churchite-(Dy)

Other Languages:
Russian:Черчит-(Dy)

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 Churchite-(Dy)

Reference List:

- +
Walenta, K. (1992): Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes. Chr. Weise Verlag, München, 336 pp.

Kolitsch & Brandstätter, unpubl. results, 2010

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    • Localities for Churchite-(Dy)

    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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    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Menzenschwand
    		Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
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