Metaswitzerite Mineral Data

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General Metaswitzerite Information

Chemical Formula:

Mn3(PO4)2•4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 426.82 gm

Manganese 38.61 % Mn 49.86 % MnO

Phosphorus 14.51 % P 33.26 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 1.89 % H 16.88 % H₂O

Oxygen 44.98 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mn²⁺₃(PO₄)₂•4(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1986

Locality:

Foote Quarry, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named as the lower hydrate of switzerite.

Name Pronunciation:

Metaswitzerite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 100236

PDF 20-713

Metaswitzerite Image

Images:

Metaswitzerite

Comments: Bladed crystalline sprays of milk chocolate-colored metaswitzerite crystals.
Location: Foote mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA. Scale: Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Metaswitzerite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.347:1:0.6524

Cell Dimensions:

a = 17.099, b = 12.694, c = 8.282, Z = 8; beta = 95.917° V = 1,788.07 Den(Calc)= 3.17

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2/a

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 8.55(1), 2.585(0.6), 7.128(0.4),

Crystal Structure:

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Fanfani L , Zanazzi P F , Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen , 26 (1979) p.255-269, Switzerite: its chemical formula and crystal structure, Locality: North Carolina, Note: could not reproduce Wat18 bond lengths, Note: IMA official name of this phase changed from switzerite

Physical Properties of Metaswitzerite

Cleavage:

{100} Perfect, {010} Distinct

Color:

Brown, Golden brown, Light yellow brown, Light pink.

Density:

2.95

Fracture:

Micaceous - Fracture of flexable micaceous cleavage fragments.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luster:

Pearly

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Metaswitzerite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.028 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.096 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1958,KPDmeas= 0.2104,KC= 0.2165
Ncalc = 1.64 - 1.69

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.602, b=1.628, g=1.632, bire=0.0300, 2V(Calc)=42, 2V(Meas)=42.

Calculated Properties of Metaswitzerite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.89 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Metaswitzerite =2.95 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0002187491
Boson Index = 0.9997812509

Photoelectric:

PE_{Metaswitzerite}= 10.49 barns/electron
U=PE_{Metaswitzerite} x rElectron Density= 30.31 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Metaswitzerite is Not Radioactive

Metaswitzerite Classification

Dana Class:

40.03.05.02 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.03)where (A++)3 (XO4)2 · x(H2O)

(40.03.05)Ludlamite Group

40.03.05.01 Ludlamite (Fe,Mg,Mn)3(PO4)2•4(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

40.03.05.02 Metaswitzerite Mn3(PO4)2•4(H2O) P 2/a 2/m

40.03.05.03 Sterlinghillite Mn3(AsO4)2•3(H2O) Mono Mono

40.03.05.04 Switzerite (Mn,Fe)3(PO4)2•7(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Strunz Class:

08.CE.25 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.C - Phosphates without Additional Anions, with H2O

08.CE -With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O £ 1:2.5

08.CE.25 Metaswitzerite Mn3(PO4)2•4(H2O) P 2/a 2/m

08.CE.25 Switzerite (Mn,Fe)3(PO4)2•7(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Other Metaswitzerite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Metaswitzerite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Metaswitzerite Specimen Label here :

Metaswitzerite

Mn3(PO4)2•4(H2O)
Dana No: 40.03.05.02 Strunz No: 08.CE.25
Locality:

Notes: