Picropharmacolite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
About PicropharmacoliteHide
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Formula:
Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O
Colour:
White; colorless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Specific Gravity:
2.55 - 2.64
Name:
Named by Friedrich Stromeyer in 1819 from the Greek πικροζ = bitter in allusion to its composition, containing magnesia, and φάρμακον ("pharmakon"), a substance with potent properties (a poison, but may also mean a drug or medicine; cf. pharmacy, pharmaceutical etc.) Picropharmacolite is not structurally related to pharmacolite despite its name as well as the chemical and physical similarity.
Usually found as small to microscopic pearly white botryoids with a radiating structure internally, also commonly as silky fibrous aggregates or small acicular crystals.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3207:6
98fdadfa-8cf8-467e-80d0-c7eae5258215
IMA Classification of PicropharmacoliteHide
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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca4Mg(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2 · 11H2O
Type description reference:
Classification of PicropharmacoliteHide
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8.CH.15
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1
39.2.4.1
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : (AB)5[HXO4]2[XO4]2.xH2O
20.2.21
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
2 : Arsenates of Be, Mg, Ca or Ba
Mineral SymbolsHide
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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ppm | 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 PicropharmacoliteHide
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Sub-Vitreous, Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
White; colorless in transmitted light.
Comment:
Hardness may be higher
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {100} and {010}, perfect.
Fracture:
Fibrous, Micaceous
Density:
2.55 - 2.64 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.58 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured value on Joplin, Missouri, material.
Optical Data of PicropharmacoliteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 1.556 - 1.566 _n_β = 1.566 - 1.571 _n_γ = 1.577 - 1.585
δ = 0.021
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Optical Extinction:
Z ^ c = 8°-15°, X=b
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
Earlier reports of higher refractive indices probably made erroneously on another species.
Chemistry of PicropharmacoliteHide
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Mindat Formula:
Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2O
Crystallography of PicropharmacoliteHide
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Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.547 Å, b = 13.500 Å, c = 6.710 Å
α = 99.85°, β = 96.41°, γ = 91.60°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.003 : 1 : 0.497
Unit Cell V:
1,200.12 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Crystals are most commonly acicular and in radial to divergent clusters, rarely as rectangular prisms elongated on [001]; more typically open spherical clusters to botryoidal with a radiating foliated internal structure, or as fibrous aggregates.
Comment:
Am Min (1981) 66:385 structure.
Crystal StructureHide
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| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000825 | Picropharmacolite | Catti M, Ferraris G, Ivaldi G (1981) The crystal structure of picropharmacolite, Ca4Mg(HAsO4)2(AsO4)2*11H2O American Mineralogist 66 385-391 |  |
1981 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 13.50 Å | (100) |
| 9.20 Å | (60) |
| 4.84 Å | (40) |
| 4.44 Å | (40) |
| 3.78 Å | (60) |
| 3.18 Å | (80) |
| 3.066 Å | (70) |
| 2.92 Å | (50) |
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Geological Setting:
A secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of metal ore deposits rich in arsenic; usually post-mine.
Type Occurrence of PicropharmacoliteHide
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Geological Setting of Type Material:
Surface weathering of arsenic-bearing ores on a mineral mine dump
Reference:
Stromeyer, H. (1819) Chemische Untersuchung der natürlichen Boraxsäure, des Eisenpecherzes, des Picro-Pharmacoliths und des Polyhalits, eines neuen fossilen-Salzes. Annalen der Physik: 61: 177-189 (185).
Synonyms of PicropharmacoliteHide
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Other Language Names for PicropharmacoliteHide
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Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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| 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 | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : I m m a |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.CH.05 | Natrowalentaite | [Fe3+0.5Na0.5(H2O)6][NaAs3+2(Fe3+2.33W6+0.67)(PO4)2O7] | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : I m m a |
| 8.CH.05 | Halilsarpite | [Mg(H2O)6][CaAs3+2(Fe3+2.67Mo6+0.33)(AsO4)2O7] | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : I m m a |
| 8.CH.10 | Anapaite | Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.CH.20 | Dittmarite | (NH4)Mg(PO4) · H2O | Orth. m _m_2 : P m _n_21 |
| 8.CH.20 | Niahite | (NH4)(Mn2+,Mg)(PO4) · H2O | Orth. m _m_2 : P m _n_21 |
| 8.CH.25 | Francoanellite | K3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 12H2O | Trig. |
| 8.CH.25 | Taranakite | (K,NH4)Al3(PO4)3(OH) · 9H2O | Trig. 3_m_ _(_32/m ) : R_3_c |
| 8.CH.30 | Schertelite | (NH4)2MgH2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) : P b c a |
| 8.CH.35 | Hannayite | (NH4)2Mg3H4(PO4)4 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : _P_1 |
| 8.CH.40 | Struvite | (NH4)Mg(PO4) · 6H2O | Orth. m _m_2 : P m _n_21 |
| 8.CH.40 | Struvite-(K) | KMg(PO4) · 6H2O | Orth. m _m_2 : P m _n_21 |
| 8.CH.40 | Hazenite | KNaMg2(PO4)2 · 14H2O | Orth. m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) |
| 8.CH.45 | Rimkorolgite | (Mg,Mn)5(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO4)4 · 8H2O | Orth. |
| 8.CH.50 | Bakhchisaraitsevite | Na2Mg5(PO4)4 · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/b |
| 8.CH.55 | Fahleite | CaZn5Fe3+2(AsO4)6 · 14H2O | Orth. |
| 8.CH.55 | Smolyaninovite | Co3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2O | Orth. |
| 8.CH.60 | Barahonaite-(Al) | (Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Al2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_2/b |
| 8.CH.60 | Barahonaite-(Fe) | (Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Fe3+2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_2/b |
| 8.CH.70 | Epifanovite | NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : _P_21/m |
| 8.CH.75 | Esdanaite-(Ce) | NaMnCe(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Orth. 222 : _P_212121 |
Fluorescence of PicropharmacoliteHide
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Other InformationHide
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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 PicropharmacoliteHide
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References for PicropharmacoliteHide
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Reference List:
Localities for PicropharmacoliteHide
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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
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- 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.