Niahite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Niahite
Formula:
(NH4)(Mn2+,Mg)(PO4) · H2O
Colour:
Pale orange
Specific Gravity:
2.39
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1983 by Peter John Bridge and Bruce William Robinson for the type locality, Niah Great Cave, Sarawak, Malaysia.
Isostructural with:
Note: Artificially grown "niahite" is sold on the market. It is in fact ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP), also called mono ammonium phosphate (MAP), formula NH4H2PO4. These fakes can be either colored bright green by doping with chromium or in any color by adding water soluble dyes like food coloring (Udo Behner info). The matrix may consist of quartz crystals or any other rock.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2893
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2893:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
10263c76-b625-472b-9961-ed784c7bbdda
IMA Classification of Niahite
Classification of Niahite
8.CH.20
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1
40.1.2.2
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : AB(XO4)·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : AB(XO4)·xH2O
19.12.5
19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Nhi | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Niahite
Colour:
Pale orange
Streak:
White
Density:
2.39 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.437 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Niahite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.582 nβ = 1.604 nγ = 1.609
2V:
Measured: 54° , Calculated: 50°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.027
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r < v moderate
Chemistry of Niahite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4)(Mn2+,Mg)(PO4) · H2O
Crystallography of Niahite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pmn21
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.68 Å, b = 8.78 Å, c = 4.88 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.647 : 1 : 0.556
Unit Cell V:
243.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012714 | Niahite | Carling S G, Day P, Visser D (1995) Crystal and magnetic structures of layer transition metal phosphate hydrates Inorganic Chemistry 34 3917-3927 | 1995 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0012715 | Niahite | Carling S G, Day P, Visser D (1995) Crystal and magnetic structures of layer transition metal phosphate hydrates Inorganic Chemistry 34 3917-3927 | 1995 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
0012716 | Niahite | Carling S G, Day P, Visser D (1995) Crystal and magnetic structures of layer transition metal phosphate hydrates Inorganic Chemistry 34 3917-3927 | 1995 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.82 Å | (100) |
4.79 Å | (50) |
4.267 Å | (60) |
3.412 Å | (40) |
2.845 Å | (80) |
2.832 Å | (90) |
2.513 Å | (30) |
2.437 Å | (30) |
2.367 Å | (30) |
2.300 Å | (40) |
2.146 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Niahite
General Appearance of Type Material:
fine radiating and sub-parallel clusters of crystals up to 0.5mm in size
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
West Australian Government Chemical Laboratories, Perth, Australia.
Malaysian Geological Survey in Kuching.
Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra, Australia.
Malaysian Geological Survey in Kuching.
Bureau of Mineral Resources, Canberra, Australia.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Limestone cave with bat guano
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Niahite
Other Language Names for Niahite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Niahite associated with Starkeyite | MgSO4 · 4H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.CH.05 | Walentaite | Fe3+3(P0.84As0.16O4)2(O,OH)6As3+2.56Ca0.42Na0.28Mn2+0.35Fe2+0.30O6.1(OH)0.9(H2O)0.9 |
8.CH.05 | Natrowalentaite | [Fe3+0.5Na0.5(H2O)6][NaAs3+2(Fe3+2.33W6+0.67)(PO4)2O7] |
8.CH.05 | Halilsarpite | [Mg(H2O)6][CaAs3+2(Fe3+2.67Mo6+0.33)(AsO4)2O7] |
8.CH.10 | Anapaite | Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
8.CH.15 | Picropharmacolite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O |
8.CH.20 | Dittmarite | (NH4)Mg(PO4) · H2O |
8.CH.25 | Francoanellite | K3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
8.CH.25 | Taranakite | (K,NH4)Al3(PO4)3(OH) · 9H2O |
8.CH.30 | Schertelite | (NH4)2MgH2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
8.CH.35 | Hannayite | (NH4)2Mg3H4(PO4)4 · 8H2O |
8.CH.40 | Struvite | (NH4)Mg(PO4) · 6H2O |
8.CH.40 | Struvite-(K) | KMg(PO4) · 6H2O |
8.CH.40 | Hazenite | KNaMg2(PO4)2 · 14H2O |
8.CH.45 | Rimkorolgite | (Mg,Mn)5(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO4)4 · 8H2O |
8.CH.50 | Bakhchisaraitsevite | Na2Mg5(PO4)4 · 7H2O |
8.CH.55 | Fahleite | CaZn5Fe3+2(AsO4)6 · 14H2O |
8.CH.55 | Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2O |
8.CH.60 | Barahonaite-(Al) | (Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Al2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2O |
8.CH.60 | Barahonaite-(Fe) | (Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Fe3+2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2O |
8.CH.70 | Epifanovite | NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2O |
8.CH.75 | Esdanaite-(Ce) | NaMnCe(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Niahite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2893.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Niahite
Reference List:
Localities for Niahite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Japan | |
| |
Malaysia (TL) | |
| |
USA | |
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Sterling Mine, Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA