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Brazilianite

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Big Photo

Telírio claim, Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Chartreuse yellow, pale ...
Hardness:5½
Name:
Named by Frederick Harvey Pough and Edward Porter Henderson in 1945 for the type locality country, Brazil, where it was first found.


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Classification of Brazilianite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/B.12-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.BK.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
K : With medium-sized and large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 2:1, 2.5:1
Dana 8th edition ID:41.5.7.1

41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.8.2

19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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Type Occurrence of Brazilianite

Type Locality:Córrego Frio mine, Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian Institution 105048.
Year of Discovery:1945
Geological Setting of type material:Granite pegmatite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TourmalineMuscoviteFluorapatiteAlbite

Occurrences of Brazilianite

Geological Setting:Phosphate zones in granitic pegmatites. Metamorphosed sedimentary deposits.

Physical Properties of Brazilianite

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Chartreuse yellow, pale yellow, yellow green, colourless; coloured varieties are colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {010}
Fracture:Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.98 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.998 g/cm3

Crystallography of Brazilianite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/b {P1 1 2/b} {P2/c} {P1 2/c 1}{P2/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.229(6) Å, b = 10.142(5) Å, c = 7.098(4) Å
β = 97.7°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.107 : 1 : 0.7
Unit Cell Volume:V 801.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Typically short prismatic, spearhead shaped, elongated [100], with large {011} and {111}. Also may exhibit {010}, {110}, {301}, and {101}. May also occur as radially-fibrous or globular.
Comment:P21/n
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
5.04 (100)
3.77 (40)
2.98 (80)
2.87 (70)
2.73 (80)
2.68 (80)
1.44 (50)
Comments:Also 41-407

Optical Data of Brazilianite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.602 nβ = 1.609 nγ = 1.621 - 1.623
2V:Measured: 71° to 75°, Calculated: 72° to 76°
Birefringence:0.020
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.019 - 0.021

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r < v perceptible
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Brazilianite

Formula:
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Al, H, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, Na, O, P

Relationship of Brazilianite to other Species

Common Associates:
FluorapatiteSideriteAlbiteMuscoviteElbaite
MontebrasiteWhitlockite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.BK.10Medenbachite
Bi
3+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Cu,Fe
3+
 
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
4
8.BK.10Neustädtelite
Bi
3+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Co)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
4
8.BK.10Cobaltneustädtelite
Bi
3+
2
Fe
3+
 
(Co,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)
 
4
8.BK.15Curetonite
Ba
 
4
Al
 
3
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(O,OH)
 
6
8.BK.20Heyite
Pb
 
5
Fe
2+
2
(VO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
4
8.BK.25Jamesite
Pb
 
2
Zn(Fe
2+
 
,Zn)
 
2
Fe
3+
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
10
8.BK.25Lulzacite
Sr
 
2
Fe
2+
 
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
2
Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
10
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.8.1Montebrasite
LiAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.8.3Wardite
NaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.4Tancoite
LiNa
 
2
Al(PO
 
4
)(HPO
 
4
)(OH)
19.8.5Bertossaite
(Li,Na)
 
2
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH,F)
 
4
19.8.6Tinsleyite
KAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
19.8.7Taranakite
(K,NH
 
4
)Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH) · 9H
 
2
O
19.8.8Francoanellite
K
 
3
Al
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.9Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.10Aldermanite
Mg
 
5
Al
 
12
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
(OH)
 
22
 · 32H
 
2
O
19.8.11Overite
CaMgAl(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
19.8.12Montgomeryite
Ca
 
4
MgAl
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.8.14Foggite
CaAl(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.15Gatumbaite
CaAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.16Crandallite
CaAl
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
19.8.17Matulaite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)Al
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(PO
 
3
OH)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
(H
 
2
O)
 
8
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.8.19Lehiite
19.8.20Millisite
(Na,K)CaAl
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
9
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.21Englishite
K
 
3
Na
 
2
Ca
 
10
Al
 
15
(PO
 
4
)
 
21
(OH)
 
7
 · 26H
 
2
O
19.8.22Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.8.23Mantienneite
KMg
 
2
Al
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O
19.8.24Paulkerrite
K(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Al,Ti,Mg)
 
2
Ti(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
3
 · 15H
 
2
O

Other Names for Brazilianite

Synonyms:
Brazilianite (of Pough and Henderson)
Other Languages:
Dutch:Brazilianiet
German:Brasilianit
Italian:Brasilianite
Polish:Brazylianit
Russian:Бразилианит
Simplified Chinese:磷铝钠石
Spanish:Brazilianita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent
Other Information:Slowly decomposed by HF and by hot H2SO4.
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 Brazilianite

Reference List:

- +
Federico, M. (1949) Ricerche cristallografiche ed ottiche sulla Brasilianite. Periodico di Mineralogia – Roma: 33-39.

Pough and Henderson (1945) American Mineralogist: 30: 572-582.

Hurlbut and Weichel (1946) American Mineralogist: 31: 507.

Frondel, C. and M.L. Lindberg (1948) Second occurrence of brazilianite. American Mineralogist: 33: 135–141.

Pecora and Fahey (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 83.

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.: 841-843.

Gatehouse, B.M. and B.K. Miskin (1974) The crystal structure of brazilianite, NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4. Acta Crystallographica: B30: 1311-1317.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 79.

Internet Links for Brazilianite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
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    • Localities for Brazilianite

    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.
    Argentina
     
    • Salta
      • Nevados de Palermo
    		Milka K. de Brodtkorb (2002) Las Especies Minerales de la Republica Argentina. Vol. 1 (elements, sulphides and sulphosalts). (Asociacion Mineralogica Argentina); M. A. Galliski (1981). Estructura, mineralogía y génesis de las pegmatitas de El Quemado, Salta, República Argentina. Tesis doctoral, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • East Gippsland Shire
        • Omeo
          • Mt Wills Mining District
            • Glen Wills
    		Museum Victoria Natural Sciences Collection
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Millstatt lake ridge
        • Spittal
          • Millstatt lake
    		G. Niedermayr: Carinthia II 187./107.:176 (1997)
    Walter, F. (2005)
          • Wolfsberg
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Brazil
     
    • Espírito Santo
    		Crystal Classics Co.
    • Minas Gerais
      • Doce Valley
    		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: 842.
        • Divino das Laranjeiras
          • Linópolis
    		No reference listed
    Cassedanne, J.P. (1983): Famous mineral localities: The Córrego Frio mine and vicinity, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Record, 14 (4): 227-237; 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: 911; Mineralogical Record: 14: 233; Rocks & Minerals (1988): 63: 42.
    Rob Lavinsky
    Atencio et al (2005) Roscherite-Group Minerals from Brazil, Axis (Min Rec), Vol 1, #6, p.1 (2005)
    Joe Freilich specimen
    [MinRec 14:235]
    Cassedanne, J.P. (1983): Famous minera localities: The Córrego Frio Mine and vicinity, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Record 14: 227-237
    [MinRec 14:235]
    Cassedanne, J.P. (1983): Famous mineral localities: The Córrego Frio mine and vicinity, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Record, 14 (4): 227-237 [ p.233-4]; Mineralogical Record (2001) 32:249
        • Mendes Pimentel
    		Atencio, D., Coutinho, J.M.V., Mascarenhas, Y.P., Ellena, J. (2006): Matioliite, the Mg-analog of burangaite, from Gentil mine, Mendes Pimentel, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and other occurrences. American Mineralogist, 91, 1932-1936.
    Cassedanne, J.P. (1983): Famous mineral localities: The Córrego Frio mine and vicinity, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Mineralogical Record, 14 (4): 227-237 [ p.233]
      • Jequitinhonha valley
        • Itinga
    		Van King
    Natural History Museum Vienna collection
    • Paraíba
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Pedra Lavrada
    		Am Min (1955) 40:55-63
    • Rio Grande do Norte
      • Borborema mineral province
        • Equador
        • Parelhas
    Canada
     
    • Yukon Territory
      • Dawson Mining District
    		MinRec 23:4-47
    [MinRec 23:18-19]
          • Kulan Camp (Area A; Area 1)
    		Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47
    Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47
    Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47
    Modris Baum specimens
    Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47.
    Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47
    Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47
    Robinson, G.W., Van Velthuizen, J., Ansell, H.G. & Sturman, B.D. (1992): Mineralogy of the Rapid Creek and Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory. Mineralogical Record 23, 1-47
    China
     
    • Jiangxi Province
      • Yichun Prefecture
        • Yuanzhou District
          • Yichun complex (Yashan batholith)
    		Xudong Che, Rucheng Wang, Huan Hu, Wenlan Zhang, and Xiaolong Huang (2007): Acta Petrologica Sinica 23(6), 1552-1560
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Aš (Asch)
    		Breiter K., Škoda R., Veselovský F.: Neobvyklý P-, Li- a Sn-bohatý pegmatit z Vernéřova u Aše, Česká republika. Bulletin Mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2009, roč. 17, č. 1, s. 41-59.
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Vysočina Region
        • Žďár nad Sázavou
    		Novák, M.: Amblygonit a produkty jeho přeměny v Li pegmatitu z Rožné. Minerál, 2001, roč. 9, č. 5, s. 326-327
    P. Pauliš (2001): Nejzajímavější naleziště Moravy a Slezska. Kuttna, Kutná Hora.
    Finland
     
    • Western and Inner Finland Region
      • Orivesi
        • Eräjärvi area
    		Sandström, F. & Lahti, S.I. (2009): Viitaniemipegmatiten i Eräjärvi, Orivesi, Finland. Litiofilen 26 (1): 11-38
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Allier
        • Ébreuil
          • Échassières
    		NICOLAS, J. & de ROSEN, A. (1963): Le massif granitique des Colettes (Allier) et ses mineralizations. Bulletin de la Société Française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie 86, 126-128.
    Germany
     
    • Bavaria
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Oberpfälzer Wald
          • Vohenstrauß
            • Waidhaus
              • Hagendorf
    		http://www.berthold-weber.de/h_miner.htm
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
        • Etiro Farm 50
    		http://portal.unesco.org/es/file_download.php/520f77b01696f95e88bb9e1ab0e64196Gondwana+Park+draft2corr.pdf.
    Rwanda
     
    • Western Province
      • Gatumba District
    		Cook, Robert B. (2000) Brazilianite. Rocks & Minerals: January 2000; Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV; Daltry, V.D.C. and O. von Knorring (1998) Type-Mineralogy of Rwanda with Particular Reference to the Buranga Pegmatite. Geologica Belgica 1:1-9
    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.
    South Africa
     
    • Northern Cape Province
      • Richtersveld
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Castile and Leon
      • Zamora
        • Villar del Buey
          • Pinilla de Fermoselle
    		Am Min 90:1887-1899
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Yavapai Co.
    		AmMin 67: 97-113 (1982)
    • Connecticut
      • Fairfield Co.
        • Town of Ridgefield
          • Branchville
    		Januzzi, 1976. Mineral Localities of CT and Southeastern NY State, p.228.
      • Middlesex Co.
        • Portland
          • Collins Hill
            • Strickland pegmatite (Strickland-Cramer Quarry; Strickland-Cramer Mine; Strickland-Cramer Feldspar-Mica Quarries)
    		Januzzi, R.E. and Seaman, David M. (1976) Mineral Localities Of Connecticut and Southern New York State and Pegmatite Minerals of the World.
    • Maine
      • Oxford Co.
        • Greenwood
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, v. 1.
        • Newry
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1; King, V. (ed.), 2000, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 2.
        • Paris
    		King & Foord, 1994. Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1.
    • New Hampshire
      • Cheshire Co.
        • Walpole
    		P. Cristofono, T. Mortimer, J.W. Nizamoff, A. Wilken, and R. Wilken (2011) The 38th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, April 14-17, 2011, lecture abstracts, page 17-18.
      • Grafton Co.
        • Groton
    		Rocks & Min. 65:359
    Rocks & Minerals: 80: 252.
    Rocks & Minerals (2005) 80:242-261 New Hampshire Mineral Locality Index
    American Mineralogist (1948): 33: 135-141; 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: 842-843.; Mineralogical Record (1973) 4:103-130; USGS Prof Paper 353; American Mineralogist (1953): 38: 728-729.
      • Sullivan Co.
        • Newport
    		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: 843.; American Mineralogist: 37: 931-940.; Rocks & Minerals (2005) 80:242-261 New Hampshire Mineral Locality Index; American Mineralogist (1953): 38: 728-729.
    • South Dakota
      • Pennington Co.
        • Keystone District
          • Keystone
    		Rocks & Minerals: 75(3): 156-169.
    Zimbabwe
     
    • Mashonaland West
    		Cairncross, B. (2004) Field Guide To Rocks & Minerals Of Southern Africa. 35.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. 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.
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