Natrophosphate
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Natrophosphate
Formula:
Na6+xHxF(PO4)2 · (19+x)H2O
formerly given as Na7(PO4)2F·19H2O
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
1.71 - 1.72
Crystal System:
Isometric
Name:
Named for the composition that includes NATRium (Latin for sodium) and phosphate.
A rare sodium phosphate hydrate mineral. Formerly thought to be chemically variable which would explain variations in its solubility.
Suggested to partially decomposes to a white powder on exposure to air; the powder likely bears Hx(PO4)3-x. Dissolves in water.
However, recently, both the sodium site occupancy and phosphate speciation were shown to be unrelated to changes in NaF and Na3PO4 concentration.
Very complex structure, based on super-octahedral [Na6(H2O)18F]5+ polycationic complex comprising six edge-linked Na6(OH2)5F octahedra.
Suggested to partially decomposes to a white powder on exposure to air; the powder likely bears Hx(PO4)3-x. Dissolves in water.
However, recently, both the sodium site occupancy and phosphate speciation were shown to be unrelated to changes in NaF and Na3PO4 concentration.
Very complex structure, based on super-octahedral [Na6(H2O)18F]5+ polycationic complex comprising six edge-linked Na6(OH2)5F octahedra.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2862
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2862:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
05b002f0-097e-4986-8ec8-479169249d4a
Classification of Natrophosphate
Approved
First published:
1972
Type description reference:
8.DN.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
N : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
N : With only large cations
42.13.9.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous
22.1.3
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
1 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with fluoride
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 |
---|---|---|
Nap | 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 Natrophosphate
Vitreous
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
octahedral imperfect
octahedral imperfect
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
1.71 - 1.72 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Natrophosphate
Type:
Isotropic
Chemical Properties of Natrophosphate
Formula:
Na6+xHxF(PO4)2 · (19+x)H2O
formerly given as Na7(PO4)2F·19H2O
formerly given as Na7(PO4)2F·19H2O
IMA Formula:
Na7(PO4)2F · 19H2O
Crystallography of Natrophosphate
Crystal System:
Isometric
Class (H-M):
m3m (4/m 3 2/m) - Hexoctahedral
Space Group:
Fd3c
Cell Parameters:
a = 27.6241(2) Å
Unit Cell V:
21,079.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
56
Morphology:
Rare as octahedra, dodecahedra, or tetrahedra, typically rounded and up to 1 cm in size; also in monomineralic aggregates and veinlets.
Comment:
new unit cell parameters from Avdontceva et al. (2021); range observed in previous research: a = 27.79–27.93 A; data for synthetic counterparts: a=28.1150 (RT), a=27.9777 (T=100K)
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0009515 | Natrophosphate | Baur W H, Tillmanns E (1974) Salt hydrates. X. The crystal structure determinations of heptasodium fluoride bisphosphate 19-hydrate and heptasodium fluoride bisarsenate 19-hydrate and the computer simulation of the isomorphous vanadate salt Acta Crystallographica B30 2218-2224 | 1974 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.18 Å | (70) |
4.93 Å | (50) |
4.06 Å | (50) |
3.05 Å | (60) |
2.90 Å | (50) |
2.67 Å | (100) |
2.42 Å | (90) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
9 : Lava/xenolith minerals (hornfels, sanidinite facies) | |
10 : Basalt-hosted zeolite minerals | |
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
35 : Ultra-alkali and agpaitic igneous rocks |
Type Occurrence of Natrophosphate
General Appearance of Type Material:
monomineralic aggregates up to 5 cm
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Vernadsky Geological Museum, Moscow, Russia, 51117.
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 74383.
A. E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 74383.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kapustin, Y.L., Bykova, A.V., Bukin, V.I. (1972) Natrophosphate, a new mineral. Zapiski Vsesoyuznogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva: 101(1): 80-86.
Synonyms of Natrophosphate
Other Language Names for Natrophosphate
German:Natrophosphat
Russian:Натрофосфат
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.DN. | Loomisite | Ba[Be2P2O8] · H2O | Mon. m |
8.DN.10 | Isoclasite | Ca2(PO4)(OH) · 2H2O | Mon. |
8.DN.15 | Lermontovite | U(PO4)(OH) · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Ccca |
8.DN.15 | Urphoite | U4+6(PO4)7(OH)3 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DN.20 | Vyacheslavite | U(PO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmca |
Fluorescence of Natrophosphate
Pale orange
Other Information
Notes:
Partially decomposes to a white powder on exposure to air, dissolves in H2O.
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 Natrophosphate
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2862.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Natrophosphate
Reference List:
Localities for Natrophosphate
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.
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Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, La Vallée-du-Richelieu RCM, Montérégie, Québec, Canada