Taranakite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Taranakite
The Sugar-Loaf Islands, from Waireka Hill.
Sugar Loaf Islands, New Plymouth, New Plymouth District, Taranaki Region, New Zealand
Sugar Loaf Islands, New Plymouth, New Plymouth District, Taranaki Region, New Zealand
Formula:
(K,NH4)Al3(PO4)3(OH) · 9H2O
Colour:
Yellow, gray, white
Specific Gravity:
2.12 - 2.15
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Discovered by H. Richmond and described by James Hector in 1865. The mineral is named after its discovery locality, Sugar Loaves, Taranaki peninsula, New Zealand.
A secondary mineral formed from the interaction of phosphatic solutions derived from bird or bat guano on clays or aluminous rocks under perenially damp conditions in caves and along sea coasts.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3890
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3890:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
265cc240-9c67-4e11-a51e-e6772edf2fcb
IMA Classification of Taranakite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
K3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 18H2O
First published:
1865
Classification of Taranakite
8.CH.25
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
39.3.6.1
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : Miscellaneous
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : Miscellaneous
19.8.7
19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
19 : Phosphates
8 : Phosphates of Al and other metals
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 |
---|---|---|
Tar | 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 Taranakite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow, gray, white
Comment:
Colourless in transmitted light.
Tenacity:
Malleable
Density:
2.12 - 2.15 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.12 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Taranakite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.506 - 1.510 nε = 1.500 - 1.503
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.006 - 0.007
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:
Low
Chemistry of Taranakite
Mindat Formula:
(K,NH4)Al3(PO4)3(OH) · 9H2O
Crystallography of Taranakite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
3m (3 2/m) - Hexagonal Scalenohedral
Space Group:
R3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.7025 Å, c = 95.05 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 10.922
Unit Cell V:
6,234.06 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
6
Morphology:
Crystals pseudohexagonal, platy; minute, lath-like and commonly in compact nodular aggregates, powdery, flour-like to claylike; massive.
Comment:
Space group determined from synthetic material.
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012725 | Taranakite | Dick S, Gossner U, Weiss A, Robl C, Grossman G, Ohms G, Zeiske T (1998) Taranakite - the mineral with the longest crystallographic axis Inorganica Chimica Acta 269 47-57 | 1998 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
15.82 Å | (100) |
3.82 Å | (40) |
3.14 Å | (31) |
3.36 Å | (29) |
7.47 Å | (28) |
3.59 Å | (22) |
7.92 Å | (18) |
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] | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Type Occurrence of Taranakite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Thin seams in fissures in trachytic rocks, with phosphate derived from guano.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Taranakite
Other Language Names for Taranakite
Spanish:Minervita
Taranakita
Taranakita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Taranakite associated with Parwanite | (Na,K)(Mg,Ca)4Al8(PO4)8(CO3)(OH)7 · 30H2O |
1 photo of Taranakite associated with Montmorillonite | (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O |
1 photo of Taranakite associated with Montgomeryite | Ca4MgAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O |
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.20 | Niahite | (NH4)(Mn2+,Mg)(PO4) · H2O |
8.CH.25 | Francoanellite | K3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
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
Notes:
Readily soluble in acids.
Easily fusible (distinguishing it from visually similar wavellite).
Easily fusible (distinguishing it from visually similar wavellite).
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 Taranakite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3890.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Taranakite
Reference List:
Localities for Taranakite
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.
Algeria | |
| A. Carnot +1 other reference |
Antarctica | |
| Tatur et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Argentina | |
| L. R. Catalano +1 other reference |
Australia | |
| Palache et al. (1951) +1 other reference |
| Webb et al. (1982) |
| Birch et al. (1993) |
| Helictite 13:19-33 |
| Bridge et al. (1978) |
Brazil | |
| Piló et al. (2023) |
| Piló et al. (2023) |
Cameroon | |
| Willems et al. (2002) |
Chile | |
| XRD and SEM-EDS by Igor V. Pekov |
China | |
| Xunyi Wang (1982) |
Czech Republic | |
| Hršelová et al. (2013) |
France | |
| F. A. Bannister and Miss Hilda Bennett (1947) +4 other references |
Palache et al. (1951) | |
Germany | |
| Blaß et al. (1995) |
| EDX and XRD confirmed by Dr. Th. Witzke |
Greece | |
| Natural History Museum Vienna collection (collected by Robert Seemann in 2006, PXRD-analysed by Christian L. Lengauer, University of Vienna) |
Hungary | |
| Szakáll-Gatter-Szendrei: Mineral ... |
| Audra et al. (2019) |
Iran | |
| Amin et al. (2022) |
Israel | |
| Weiner et al. (1993) |
Italy | |
| Dell'Anna et al. (1989) |
| Balenzano et al. (1974) |
| Dell'Anna et al. (1989) |
| Dell'Anna et al. (1989) |
Dell'Anna et al. (1989) | |
Dell'Anna et al. (1989) | |
| Casoria (1904) +2 other references |
| Audra et al. (2019) |
| Cancian (1984) |
| Baldoni et al. (2013) +2 other references |
| Audra et al. (2019) |
| Audra et al. (2019) |
Vattano M. et al. (2013) | |
Japan | |
| Sakae and Sudo (1975) +1 other reference |
| Nobuhide Sawamura & Hitoshi Momoi: ... +1 other reference |
Ohe Rikosha specimens (Kyoto) | |
Kenya | |
| Forti et al. (2004) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| V.I. Stepanov data |
Malaysia | |
| Bridge et al. (1983) |
Mexico | |
| Forti (2006) |
New Zealand | |
| J. Thornton in Micro-Scope +1 other reference |
| Palache et al. (1951) +2 other references |
Philippines | |
| Wurster et al. (2015) |
Wurster et al. (2015) | |
Romania | |
| al României (2003) |
| Dumitras D et al. (2004) |
| Marincea et al. (2006) |
| D. Dumitras (2000) +1 other reference |
| Onac (2009) |
| Neacșu Antonela (2007) |
| Marincea et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
| Onac et al. (2003) |
Tudor Tămaș (2010) | |
Russia | |
| Sokol et al. (2022) |
Slovakia | |
| Sejkora et al. (2004) +1 other reference |
South Africa | |
| Martini (1978) |
| Martini (1997) |
| Martini (1978) |
| Martini (1978) |
| Miller et al. (2016) |
South Korea | |
| Jun +4 other references |
Spain | |
| B. Onac et al (2009) |
| Onac et al. (2005) |
USA | |
| Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 314. +2 other references |
| NSS Bulletin 44:90-97 (1982) |
| Murray et al. (1956) |
Dietrich (1990) |
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Skipton Caves, Mount Widderin, Skipton, Corangamite Shire, Victoria, Australia