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Brushite

Big Photo

Moorba Cave, Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia
© 2009, JGW

Show Brushite Photos (2)
Formula:
CaHPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, light ...
Hardness:2½
Name:For American mineralogist George Jarvis Brush (1831-1912), Professor, Yale University.
This page provides mineralogical data about Brushite.

Classification of Brushite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.25-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CJ.50

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
Dana 8th edition ID:39.1.1.1

39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : A[HXO4]·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.4.3

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

Type Locality:Aves Island, Nueva Esparta, Venezuela
Year of Discovery:1864
Geological Setting of type material:Insular guano deposit.

Occurrences of Brushite

Geological Setting:Insular and continental phosphate deposits; incrustations on ancient bones.

Physical Properties of Brushite

Lustre:Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly on cleavages.
Colour:Colourless, light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010} and {001}, perfect.
Density (measured):2.328 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.257 g/cm3
Comment:2.326 (artificial crystals).

Crystallography of Brushite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2 - Sphenoidal
Cell Parameters:a = 5.83Å, b = 15.19Å, c = 6.26Å
β = 116.47°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.384 : 1 : 0.412
Unit Cell Volume:V 496.26 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals minute, acicular or prismatic to tabular {010}. Efflorescences, cavity linings. Earthy, pulverulent, foliated.

Optical Data of Brushite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.539 nβ = 1.546 nγ = 1.551
2V:Measured: 86° , Calculated: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

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

Chemical Properties of Brushite

Formula:
CaHPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, P

Relationship of Brushite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CJ.05Stercorite
NaNH
 
4
HPO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Mundrabillaite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.10Swaknoite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Ca[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nabaphite
NaBaPO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.15Nastrophite
Na(Sr,Ba)PO
 
4
·9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.20Haidingerite
Ca[HAsO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.CJ.25Vladimirite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.30Ferrarisite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.35Machatschkiite
(Ca,Na)
 
6
AsO
 
4
(AsO
 
3
OH)
 
3
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·15H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Phaunouxite
Ca
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 11H
 
2
O
8.CJ.40Rauenthalite
Ca
 
3
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Brockite
(Ca,Th,Ce)(PO
 
4
)·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Grayite
(Th,Pb,Ca)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Ce)
(Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(La)
(La,Ce)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,La)PO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Tristramite
(Ca,U,Fe)(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45UM1997-20-AsO:HU
U
4+
 
(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.45Smirnovskite
ThCa[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 ·nH
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Ardealite
Ca
 
2
[HPO
 
4
|SO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Y)
YPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Pharmacolite
CaHAsO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Nd)
NdPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.55Mcnearite
NaCa
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
4
|AsO
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.60Dorfmanite
Na
 
2
(PO
 
3
OH)·2H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Sincosite
CaV
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O
 
2
·5H
 
2
O
8.CJ.65Bariosincosite
Ba(V
4+
 
O)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.CJ.70Catalanoite
Na
 
2
[HPO
 
4
] · 8H
 
2
O
8.CJ.75Guérinite
Ca
 
5
[(HAsO
 
4
)
 
2
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.CJ.85Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·1-2H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.4.1Monetite
CaHPO
 
4
19.4.2Apatite-(CaOH)
Ca
 
5
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
19.4.4Isoclasite
Ca
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.4.5Buchwaldite
NaCaPO
 
4
19.4.6Canaphite
CaNa
 
2
[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
 
3
OH][PO
 
4
]
 
6
19.4.9Brianite
Na
 
2
CaMg[PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.4.10Petersite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Nd)Cu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Brushite

Synonyms:
EpiglaubiteMetabrushiteStoffertite
Other Languages:
German:Brushit
Epiglaubit
Russian:Брушит
Spanish:Brushita
Epiglaubita

Other Information

Electrical:Piezoelectric
Other Information:Readily soluble in HCl.
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 Brushite

Reference List:Shepard (1856) American Journal of Science: 22: 96 (as Epiglaubite).

Julien (1865) American Journal of Science: 40: 369 (as Metabrushite).

Moore (1865) American Journal of Science: 39: 43.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 828.

Klein (1901) Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin: 720 (as Stoffertite).

Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 491.

Koehler (1926) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 37: 93.

Chudoba (1928) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 291.

Hintze, Carl (1931) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4B]: 788.

Sekanina (1935) Publications of the Faculty of Science of the University Masaryk, Brno [220].

Hill and Hendricks (1936) Ind. Eng. Chem.: 28: 441.

Terpstra (1937) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 97: 229.

Frondel, C. (1943) American Mineralogist: 28: 215.

Van Tassel (1944) Bulletin of the Museum of Natural History of Belgium: 22, no. 17.

Mélon and Dallemagne (1946) Bulletin de la Sociètè Belge de Gèologie: 69: B19.

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.: 704-706.

Belluomini G. (1968) - Brushite in efflorescenze su frammenti ossei umani d'età romana. Periodico di mineralogia – Roma, pp. 21-29.

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    Localities for Brushite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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
     
    • Wahran Department
    		Korbel & Novak, 1999. Min. Encylopaedia, p.179
        • Oran
    		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: 705.
    Antarctica
     
    • Eastern Antarctica
      • Princess Elizabeth Land
        • Ingrid Christensen Coast
    		Gore, D.B., Nichols, G.T., Lehmann, C.E.R., Burgess, J.S., Baird, A.S.&, Creagh, D.C. (2000) An atlas of surficial salts of the Vestfold Hills, East Antarctica: composition, distribution and origin ANARE Report 143. 146 pp
    Australia
     
    • Victoria
      • Corangamite Shire
        • Skipton
          • Mt. Widderin (Anderson's 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: 700.
      • Gippsland
        • Buchan
    • Western Australia
      • Eucla
        • Madura Motel
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1974): 39: 889.-890.
      • Jurien Bay
    		Helictite 13:19-33
      • Nullarbor Plain
        • Eucla
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1973): 39,467-469.
    Austria
     
    • Carinthia
      • Hohe Tauern Mts
        • Ankogel group
          • Kleinelend valley
    		F. Brandstätter, G. Niedermayr: Carinthia II 186./106.:132-133 (1996)
        • Hafner group
          • Pölla valley
    		G. Niedermayr, I. Praetzel: Mineralien Kärntens, 1995
    • Lower Austria
      • Türnitzer Alpen Mts
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    • Salzburg
      • Werfen
        • Tennen Mts
          • Tenneck
    		A. Strasser: Die Minerale Salzburgs, 1989
    Bahamas
     
    • San Salvador District
      • San Salvador Island
    		Carb.&Evap. v.16 no.1 (2001)
    British West Indies
     
    • Anguilla
    		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: 705.
    Canada
     
    • Yukon Territory
      • Dawson Mining District
    		[Mineralogical Record Vol 23 No.4 pp 37]
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Hérault
        • Cevennes Mts
    		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: 705.
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Limoges
    		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: 705.
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Lüneburg
    		A. Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schlema-Hartenstein District
          • Schlema
            • Oberschlema
    		J. Gröbner and U. Kolitsch (2007): Aktuelle Neufunde aus dem Erzgebirge III. Mineralien-Welt 18 (5), 16-19. (in German)
    Lapis 30(7/8):78-80 (2005)
    • Thuringia
      • Saalfeld
        • Garnsdorf
    		F. Rüger, L. Senf & T. Witzke: Lapis 1995 (1), 15-26
    Hungary
     
    • Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén Co.
      • Aggteleki Mts.
        • Aggtelek
    • Komárom-Esztergom Co.
      • Gerecse Mts.
        • Lábatlan
    		Szakáll-Gatter-Szendrei: Mineral Species of Hungary, 2006
    • Veszprém Co.
      • Balaton Uplands
    		Koch: Minerals of Hungary, 1985
    Italy
     
    • Puglia
      • Bari Province
    		Balenzano, F., Dell'Ann,a L. & Di Pierro, M. (1974a): Ricerche mineralogiche su alcuni fosfati rinvenuti nelle Grotte di Castellana (Bari): strengite alluminifera, vivianite, taranakite, brushite e idrossiapatite. Rendiconti della Società Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia, 30(2), 543-573.
    Japan
     
    • Honshu Island
      • Kanto Region
        • Kanagawa Prefecture
    		Matsubara & Chiba (1982) Shizenkagaku To Hakubutsukan, 49, 151-153.
      • Tohoku Region
        • Iwate Prefecture
          • Kamaishi City
    		Dr. Matsuo Nambu collection (curated at Geological Survey of Japan)
    • Kyushu Island
      • Kumamoto Prefecture
    		Nobuhide Sawamura & Hitoshi Momoi: “Cave minerals and the guano from Kyusendo cave in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan”, Journal of the Speleological Society of Japan; N. Kashiima: “The phosphate minerals from Kyusen-do cave, southern Kyushu”, Journal of the Speleological Society of Japan.)
    Kenya
     
    • Rift Valley Province
      • Suswa Volcano
    		Forti, P., E. Galli & A. Rossi (2004):"Minerogenesis of volcanic caves of Kenya" , Int. J. Speleol. 32, 3-18
    Malaysia
     
    • Borneo Island
      • Sarawak
    		Mineralogical Magazine (1983): 47: 79-80.
    Namibia
     
    • Otjozondjupa Region
      • Grootfontein District
        • Kombat
    		Mineralogical Record: 22: 421.
    Puerto Rico
     
    • Mayeguez
    		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: 705.
    Wise, W. (1997), J. Cave and Karst Studies, 53,170.
    Réunion Island
    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: 716.
    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: 716.
    Romania
     
    • Hunedoara Co.
      • Hunedoara
    		European Journal of Mineralogy; April 2009; v. 21; no. 2; p. 507-514
    Russia
     
    • Far-Eastern Region
      • Kamchatka Oblast'
    		[Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p163-180]
    [Der Aufschluss 1995:4 p.163-180]
    Slovakia
     
    • Košice Region
      • Slovenský kras Mts
        • Ardovo
    		Koděra et all.,1990: Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, I-III, 1590p
    Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
        • Jasov
    		Koděra et all.,1990: Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, I-III, 1590p
        • Kečovo
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590k
    • Prešov Region
      • Northern Slanské Mts
        • Červenica (Czerwenitza)
          • Dubník
    		Koděra, M. et al., 1986 a 1990 : Topografická mineralógia Slovenska, diel 1- 3, Veda – Vydavateľstvo SAV, Bratislava, 1990, 1 – 1590
    South Africa
    Minerals of South Africa
    Minerals of South Africa
    • Gauteng Province
      • Carletonville
    		Minerals of South Africa
    • Mpumalanga Province
      • Nelspruit District
    		Martini, J.E.J. et al (1997), "Mbobo Mkulu Cave, South Africa", in "Cave Minerals of the World" (1997)
    • Northwest Province
      • Oberholzer
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Barcelona
        • Baix Llobregat
          • Gavà
            • Bruguers
    		Bareche, E (2005) "Els minerals de Catalunya. Segle XX" Ed. Grup Mineralògic Català, Barcelona, 269 p.
    Switzerland
     
    • Bern
      • Emme Valley
        • Burgdorf
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Verlag Wepf & Co. (Basel), p. 88
    • Vaud (Waadt)
      • Payerne
    		Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Verlag Wepf & Co. (Basel), p. 88
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • St Just District
          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
            • Botallack
              • Botallack Mine
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Whetstone Mts
          • Whetstone District
    		www.caves.org; Hill, C.A. (1999) Mineralogy of Kartchner Caverns, Arizona, Journal of Cave and Karst Studies: 61(2): 73-78
    • California
      • Mono Co.
        • Mono Lake
    • New Hampshire
      • Grafton Co.
        • Groton
    		Whitmore & Lawrence, 2004. The Pegmatite Mines Known As Palermo, p.95.
    • Virginia
      • Giles Co.
    		American Mineralogist (1956): 41: 616.
    Venezuela
     
    • Aragua
    		Urbani, 1997. Bol. Soc. Venezolana de Espeleología, no.30.
    • Miranda
    		Urbani, 1997. Bol. Soc. Venezolana de Espeleología, no.30.
    Urbani, 1997. Bol. Soc. Venezolana de Espeleología, no.30.
    • Nueva Esparta
    		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: 705.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 31st Oct 2009 14:13:03