Birchite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species
About BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Formula:
Cd2Cu2(PO4)2(SO4) · 5H2O
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
For William David "Bill" Birch, AM (1949-). Bill obtained his PhD in the Department of Geology at the University of Melbourne in 1976 and commenced work at the National Museum of Victoria (now Museum Victoria), as Curator with responsibilities for developing the mineral, rock and meteorite collections, a position he still holds (in 2009). He has co-described thirty new mineral species and has over 150 publications to his credit. These range from popular articles and booklets accessible to members of the general public with an interest in the geosciences, to major papers involving international mineralogical collaboration.
He has had active involvment in a number of societies such as: the Mineralogical Society of Victoria (founding President), the Gemmological Association of Australia (as present patron), the Geological Society of Australia, the Royal Society of Victoria (he is a member of Council), and the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (Australian representative 1984-1996 and Secretary 1996-2008).
In June 2006 he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to geological science, particularly through the study and documentation of the geology of Victoria, and to a range of professional organisations."
One of several rare Cd minerals occurring at Broken Hill, NSW, Australia.
Unique IdentifiersHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:35925:8
83b45a03-e819-4f43-8773-96ce3926532f
IMA Classification of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Type description reference:
Elliott, P., Brugger, J., Pring, A., Cole, M. L., Willis, A. C., Kolitsch, U. (2008) Birchite, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia: Description and structure refinement. American Mineralogist, 93 (5) 910-917 doi:10.2138/am.2008.2732
Classification of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
8.DB.70
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4< 1:1
43.3.3.
43 : COMPOUND PHOSPHATES, ETC.
3 : Hydrated Normal Compound Phosphates, etc·
Mineral SymbolsHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bc | 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 BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Density:
3.61(4) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.647 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
RI values:
_n_α = 1.624(4) _n_β = 1.636(5) _n_γ = 1.669(4)
δ = 0.045
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Dispersion:
No or only very small dispersion.
Optical Extinction:
X = b; Y = a; Z = c.
Comments:
Very faint pleochroism. X = pale bluish, Z = pale greenish.
Comments:
Absorption: Z ≥ X.
Chemistry of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Mindat Formula:
Cd2Cu2(PO4)2(SO4) · 5H2O
Crystallography of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.489(6) Å, b = 20.901(7) Å, c = 6.155(5) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.502 : 1 : 0.294
Morphology:
Crystals are bladed (somewhat lath-shaped) and prismatic to acicular in habit. Elongated along [001] and sometimes also flattened on (100). Main forms are {100} and {010}. Most crystals are not well terminated, but some show minor {101} and {001} faces.
Twinning:
No twinning observed.
Crystal StructureHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Load
Unit Cell |Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 |3x3x3 |4x4x4
Show
Big Balls |Small Balls |Just Balls |Spacefill
Polyhedra Off |Si Polyhedra |All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background |White Background
Perspective On |Perspective Off
2D |Stereo |Red-Blue |Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best |x |y |z |a |b |c
Rotation
Stop |Start
Labels
Console Off |On |Grey |Yellow
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004585 | Birchite | Elliot P, Brugger J, Pring A, Cole M L, Willis A C, Kolitsch U (2008) Birchite, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia: Description and structure refinement American Mineralogist 93 910-917 |  |
2008 | Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.451 Å | (100) |
| 5.146 Å | (30) |
| 4.223 Å | (40) |
| 3.484 Å | (40) |
| 2.902 Å | (70) |
| 2.719 Å | (30) |
| 2.652 Å | (30) |
| 1.919 Å | (80) |
Comments:
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Data from the type description.
Geological EnvironmentHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Type Occurrence of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
General Appearance of Type Material:
Sprays and aggregates to crystals to 0.75 mm. Individual crystals are bladed to prismatic and acicular, with a max. length of 0.3 mm and width of 0.05 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Department of Mineralogy of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, australia (registration number G30968).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Secondary mineral formed under late stage supergene low-temperature conditions.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Elliott, P., Brugger, J., Pring, A., Cole, M.L., Willis, A.C. and Kolitsch, U. (2008) Birchite, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia: description and structure refinement. American Mineralogist: 93: 910-917.
Synonyms of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Other Language Names for BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
| 8.DB. | Arangasite | Al2F(PO4)(SO4) · 9H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_2/b |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.DB. | Camaronesite | [Fe3+(H2O)2(PO3OH)]2(SO4) · 1-2H2O | Trig. 32 : _R_32 |
| 8.DB. | Höslite | Fe3+3(VO4)2(SO4)(OH)(H2O)4 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/b |
| 8.DB.05 | Diadochite | Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O | Amor. |
| 8.DB.05 | Pitticite | (Fe, AsO4, H2O) (?) | Amor. |
| 8.DB.05 | Destinezite | Fe3+2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.07 | Wilhelmgümbelite | ZnFe2+Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)4(H2O)5 · 2H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) |
| 8.DB.07 | Schmidite | [Zn2(Fe3+,Mn2+)2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6] · 2H2O | Orth. |
| 8.DB.07 | Wildenauerite | Zn(Fe3+,Mn2+)2MnFe3+(PO4)3(OH)3(H2O)6 · 2H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : P b a m |
| 8.DB.10 | Vashegyite | Al11(PO4)9(OH)6 · 38H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) |
| 8.DB.15 | Schoonerite | ZnMn2+Fe2+2Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : P b a m |
| 8.DB.20 | Sinkankasite | Mn2+Al(PO3OH)2(OH) · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.25 | Mitryaevaite | Al6(PO4)((P,S)O3(OH,O))2F2(OH)2 · 14.5H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.30 | Sanjuanite | Al2(PO4)(SO4)(OH) · 9H2O | Tric. |
| 8.DB.35 | Sarmientite | Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/b |
| 8.DB.40 | Bukovskýite | Fe3+2(AsO4)(SO4)(OH) · 9H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.40 | Flurlite | Zn3Mn2+Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2 · 9H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/m |
| 8.DB.40 | Manganflurlite | ZnMn2+3Fe3+(PO4)3(OH)2(H2O)7 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/m |
| 8.DB.42 | Bohuslavite | Fe3+4(PO4)3(SO4)(OH) · nH2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.45 | Zýkaite | Fe3+4(AsO4)3(SO4)(OH) · 15H2O | Orth. 222 : _P_222 |
| 8.DB.47 | Lapeyreite | Cu3O[AsO3(OH)]2 · 0.75H2O | Mon. 2/m : _B_2/m |
| 8.DB.50 | Giniite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_2/b |
| 8.DB.50 | Rossiantonite | Al3(PO4)(SO4)2(OH)2(H2O)14 | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.52 | Arctowskite | Al9(PO4)8(OH)3 · 27H2O | Orth. |
| 8.DB.55 | Sasaite | (Al,Fe3+)14(PO4)11(SO4)(OH)7 · 83H2O | Orth. |
| 8.DB.60 | Mcauslanite | Fe3Al2(PO4)3(PO3OH)F · 18H2O | Tric. |
| 8.DB.65 | Goldquarryite | CuCd2Al3(PO4)4F2(H2O,F)2 · 10H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.DB.75 | Braithwaiteite | NaCu5(Ti4+Sb5+)(AsO4)4(HAsO4)2O2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
Fluorescence of BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Other InformationHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Notes:
Slowly soluble, without effervescence, in cold 10% HCl.
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 BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
References for BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
Reference List:
Elliott, P., Brugger, J., Pring, A., Cole, M. L., Willis, A. C., Kolitsch, U. (2008) Birchite, a new mineral from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia: Description and structure refinement. American Mineralogist, 93 (5) 910-917 doi:10.2138/am.2008.2732
Localities for BirchiteHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
This 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.
Locality ListHide
This section is currently hidden. Click the show button to view.
- 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.
| Australia (TL) | |
|---|---|
| New South Wales Yancowinna Co. Broken Hill district ⓘ Broken Hill (TL) | Elliott et al. (2008) |
| ⓘ Block 14 opencut | John Haupt |