Bobierrite Mineral Data

Bobierrite Mineral Data +

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General Bobierrite Information

Chemical Formula:

Mg3(PO4)2·8(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 406.98 gm

Magnesium 17.92 % Mg 29.71 % MgO

Phosphorus 15.22 % P 34.88 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 3.96 % H 35.41 % H₂O

Oxygen 62.90 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mg₃(PO₄)₂·8(H₂O)

Environment:

Formed from the chemical alteration of guano deposits (Mejillones, Chile; Imperial Canyon lava tubes, Kenya), and an elephant tusk (Edgerton, Minnesota, USA).

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1868

Locality:

Found on Mejillones Island, Chile. In Western Australia, found in the Pilbara district, at Wodgina. From Marlborough, New Zealand. In the USA, sound near Edgerton, Pipestone Co., Minne Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

In honor of Pierre Adolphe Bobierre (1823-1881), French agricultural chemist, who first described the mineral.

Bobierrite Image

Images:

Bobierrite

Comments: Crystal group of bobierrite partially covered by yellow calcite.
Location: Zheleznyi Mine, Kovdor, Kola Penisula, Russia. Scale: Crystal size 1 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Bobierrite Strontiowhitlockite

Comments: Pale white to pink fine grained strontiowhitlockite with bobierrite.
Location: Kovdor Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk District, Russia. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Bobierrite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.1671:1:0.3604

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.667, b = 27.926, c = 10.067, Z = 4; beta = 105.01° V = 1,267.27 Den(Calc)= 2.13

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/c

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 6.96(1), 2.94(0.27), 8.04(0.18),

Crystal Structure:

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Takagi S , Mathew M , Brown W E , American Mineralogist , 71 (1986) p.1229-1233, Crystal structures of bobierrite and synthetic Mg3(PO4)2(H2O)8

Physical Properties of Bobierrite

Cleavage:

[010] Perfect

Color:

Colorless, Gray, White.

Density:

2.195

Diaphaniety:

Transparent

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Bobierrite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.014 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.045 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2547,KPDmeas= 0.2472,KC= 0.2436

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.51-1.5468, b=1.52-1.5533, g=1.543-1.582, bire=0.0330-0.0352, 2V(Calc)=52-68, 2V(Meas)=53-71.

Calculated Properties of Bobierrite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.27 gm/cc
note: r_Bobierrite=2.20 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.01822
Boson Index = 0.98178

Photoelectric:

PE_Bobierrite= 1.21 barns/electron
U=PE_Bobierrite x r_electron= 2.75 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Bobierrite is Not Radioactive

Bobierrite Classification

Dana Class:

40.3.7.1 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.3)where (A++)3 (XO4)2 · x(H2O)

(40.3.7)Dana Group

40.3.7.1 Bobierrite Mg3(PO4)2·8(H2O) C 2/c 2/m

40.3.7.2 Manganese-hornesite (Mn,Mg)3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

Strunz Class:

VII/C.13-10 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/C - Water-bearing phosphates without unfamiliar anions. cations of medium and small size: Be and Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg

VII/C.13 - Vivianite group

VII/C.13-10 Bobierrite Mg3(PO4)2·8(H2O) C 2/c 2/m

VII/C.13-20* Cattiite! Mg3(PO4)2·22(H2O) P1 1

VII/C.13-20 Manganese-hornesite (Mn,Mg)3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

VII/C.13-30 Baricite (Mg,Fe)3(PO4)2·8(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-40 Vivianite Fe3(PO4)2·8(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-45 Arupite (Ni,Fe)3(PO4)2·8(H2O) I2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-50 Hornesite Mg3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) I2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-60 Parasymplesite Fe3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-70 Erythrite Co3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) I2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-80 Annabergite Ni3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) I2/m 2/m

VII/C.13-90 Kottigite Zn3(AsO4)2·8(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

Other Bobierrite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic4) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Bobierrite

Mg3(PO4)2·8(H2O)
Dana No: 40.3.7.1 Strunz No: VII/C.13-10
Locality:

Notes: