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Brushite

Big Photo

Moorba Cave, Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia
© J. Weissman

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.30Guérinite
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.45Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·1-2H
 
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.45Smirnovskite
(Th,Ca)PO
 
4
 ·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
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
[HPO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
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
German names:
BrushitEpiglaubit
Russian names:
Брушит
Spanish names:
BrushitaEpiglaubita

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.

Internet Links for Brushite

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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.
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    (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
      • 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.
    • 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
      • 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.
    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.
    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
    		No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Whetstone Mts
          • Whetstone District
    		www.caves.org
    • 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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