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Brianite

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Formula:
Na
 
2
CaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
2
System:MonoclinicColour:Colorless
Hardness:4 - 5
Name:After Dr. Brian Mason (1917-2009), a New Zealandic-American geochemist, mineralogist and meteoriticist. He graduated from Canterbury University, New Zealand. He served as a Curator of Mineralogy at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and as Curator of Meteorites at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. He was a proponent for the systematic collection of meteorites and studied moon rocks. He was a recipient of the Leonard Medal and the Roebling Medal.
Isostructural with:Merwinite
This page provides mineralogical data about Brianite.

Classification of Brianite

IMA status:Approved 1966
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.05-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AC.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 7th edition ID:38.1.7.1
Dana 8th edition ID:38.1.7.1

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.4.9

19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca
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Type Occurrence of Brianite

Type Locality:Dayton meteorite, Montgomery Co., Ohio, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Granular with lamellar structure.
Year of Discovery:1966
Geological Setting of type material:Meteorite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WhitlockitePanethiteAlbiteEnstatite

Physical Properties of Brianite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colorless
Hardness (Mohs):4 - 5
Density (measured):3.00 - 3.10 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.13 g/cm3

Crystallography of Brianite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Space Group Setting:P21/a
Cell Parameters:a = 13.36Å, b = 5.23Å, c = 9.13Å
β = 91.2°
Ratio:a:b:c = 2.554 : 1 : 1.746
Unit Cell Volume:V 637.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:Am Min (1975) 60:717; ICDD 29-1192
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.73 (90)
3.34 (70)
3.16 (60)
2.72 (80)
2.68 (90)
2.63 (10)
2.23 (70)
1.875 (90)
Comments:ICDD 29-1192, also 20-1091.

Optical Data of Brianite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.598 nβ = 1.605 nγ = 1.608
2V:Measured: 63° to 65°, Calculated: 66°
Birefringence:0.010
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r < v weak
Optical Extinction:extinction ^ lamellae = 2-3°
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic

Chemical Properties of Brianite

Formula:
Na
 
2
CaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
2
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Mg, Na, O, P

Relationship of Brianite to other Species

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.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.45Merrillite
Ca
 
9
NaMg(PO
 
4
)
 
7
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
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.4.1Monetite
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
19.4.2Hydroxylapatite
Ca
 
5
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
19.4.3Brushite
Ca(HPO
 
4
) · 2H
 
2
O
19.4.4Isoclasite
Ca
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH) · 2H
 
2
O
19.4.5Buchwaldite
NaCa(PO
 
4
)
19.4.6Canaphite
Na
 
2
Ca(P
 
2
O
 
7
) · 4H
 
2
O
19.4.7Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.4.8Whitlockite
Ca
 
9
Mg(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(HPO
 
4
)
19.4.10Petersite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Brianite

Synonyms:
IMA1966-030
Other Languages:
German:Brianit
Spanish:Brianita

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 Brianite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 53: 508.

American Mineralogist: 60: 717-718.

Fuchs, L. H., Olsen, E. and Henderson, E. P. (1967): Occurrence of brianite and panethite, two new phosphate minerals from the Dayton meteorite. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta: 31, 1711-1719.

Internet Links for Brianite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Brianite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Brianite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Brianite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    • Localities for Brianite

    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.
    Poland
     
    • Wielkopolskie
      • Poznan
    		MULTIMINERAL INCLUSIONS IN THE MORASKO COARSE OCTAHEDRITE www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2008/pdf/5232.pdf
    USA
     
    • Ohio
      • Montgomery Co.
    		Am Min 60:717-718
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