Meurigite-K
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About Meurigite-K
Formula:
KFe3+8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 6.5H2O
Colour:
Yellowish brown, cream to white, pale to canary yellow
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Waxy, Silky
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
2.96
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1996 by William D. Birch, Allan Pring, P. G. Self, R. B. Gibbs, E. Kleck, Martin C. Jensen, Eugene Edward Foord in honor of John Meurig Thomas [born 15 December, 1932 Llanelli, South Wales, United Kingdom - died 13 November, 2020], a prolific reasearcher and crystal chemist known for his work on heterogeneous catalysis, solid-state chemistry, and surface and materials science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, UK.
Obituary:
https://www.iucr.org/news/newsletter/etc/articles?issue=150473&result_138339_result_page=20
Obituary:
https://www.iucr.org/news/newsletter/etc/articles?issue=150473&result_138339_result_page=20
Possibly identical to phosphofibrite (Kolitsch, 1999; Kampf & Kolitsch, 2008 and Kampf et al., 2009), although the latter appears to be K-deficient (K < 0.5 pfu).
See also the sodium analogue meurigite-Na.
Previously called meurigite (renamed in 2009).
See also the sodium analogue meurigite-Na.
Previously called meurigite (renamed in 2009).
Classification of Meurigite-K
Approved
Approval year:
1995
8.DK.15
8.DJ.20
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
J : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
J : With large and medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1
42.13.14.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous
Physical Properties of Meurigite-K
Sub-Vitreous, Waxy, Silky
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
depending on the packing of the fibers
Colour:
Yellowish brown, cream to white, pale to canary yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Estimated
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Fracture:
None observed
Density:
2.96 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.86 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Meurigite-K
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.780(5) nβ = 1.785(5) nγ = 1.800(5)
2V:
Calculated: 60°
Birefringence:
0.020
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.020

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
r > v distinct
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemical Properties of Meurigite-K
Formula:
KFe3+8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 6.5H2O
Crystallography of Meurigite-K
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 29.018(5) Å, b = 5.1892(6) Å, c = 19.695(3) Å
β = 106.987(1)°
β = 106.987(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 5.592 : 1 : 3.795
Unit Cell V:
2836.3 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
tabular on [001] and elongated parallel to [010]
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0004452 | Meurigite-K | Kampf A R, Pluth J J, Chen Y S (2007) The crystal structure of meurigite American Mineralogist 92 1518-1524 | ![]() | 2007 | Santa Rita mine, Grant County, New Mexico | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
9.41 Å | (60) |
4.84 Å | (90) |
4.32 Å | (70) |
4.25 Å | (50) |
3.470 Å | (60) |
3.216 Å | (100) |
3.116 Å | (80) |
Type Occurrence of Meurigite-K
General Appearance of Type Material:
Drusy coating of fibrous yellow rosettes
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxide zone of a copper deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Meurigite-K
Other Language Names for Meurigite-K
German:Meurigit-K
Spanish:Meurigita-K
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
7 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Leucophosphite | KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O |
4 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O |
4 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Strengite | FePO4 · 2H2O |
3 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Ruifrancoite | Ca2(◻,Mn)2(Fe3+,Mn,Mg)4Be4(PO4)6(OH)4(OH,H2O)2 · 4H2O |
3 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
3 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
3 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Turquoise | CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O |
3 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Rockbridgeite | Fe2+Fe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 |
3 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Cyrilovite | NaFe3+3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O |
2 photos of Meurigite-K associated with Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.DJ.05 | Johnwalkite | K(Mn2+,Fe2+,Fe3+)2(Nb5+,Ta5+)(PO4)2O2 · 2(H2O,OH) | Orth. |
8.DJ.05 | Olmsteadite | KFe2+2(Nb5+,Ta5+)(PO4)2O2 · 2H2O | Orth. |
8.DJ.10 | Gatumbaite | CaAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
8.DJ.15 | Camgasite | CaMg(AsO4)(OH) · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
8.DJ.20 | Phosphofibrite | (H2O,K)3.5Fe8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m |
8.DJ.20 | Meurigite-Na | NaFe3+8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 6.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.DJ.25 | Jungite | Ca2Zn4Fe3+8(PO4)9(OH)9 · 16H2O | Orth. |
8.DJ.30 | Wycheproofite | NaAlZr(PO4)2(OH) · H2O | Tric. |
8.DJ.35 | Ercitite | Na2Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DJ.40 | Mrázekite | Bi2Cu3(PO4)2O2(OH)2 · H2O | Mon. 2/m |
8.DJ.45 | Attikaite | Ca3Cu2Al2(AsO4)4(OH)4 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pban |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
42.13.14.2 | Meurigite-Na | NaFe3+8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 6.5H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
42.13.14.3 | Phosphofibrite | (H2O,K)3.5Fe8(PO4)6(OH)7 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m |
Fluorescence of Meurigite-K
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Meurigite-K
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Birch, W. D., Pring, A., Self, P. G., Gibbs, R. B., Keck, E., Jensen, M. C. and Foord, E. E. (1996): Meurigite, a new fibrous iron phosphate resembling kidwellite. Mineralogical Magazine 60, 787-793.
Kolitsch, U. (1999): Evidence for the identity of meurigite and phosphofibrite by transmission electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. European Journal of Mineralogy: 11, Beih. No. 1, 132.
Mineralogical Record: 28: 143.
Kampf, A.R., J.J.Pluth, & Y. Chen (2007): The crystal structure of meurigite. American Mineralogist 92, 1518-1534.
A. R. Kampf and U. Kolitsch (2008): The relationship between phosphofibrite and meurigite. M&M6, 6th Intern. Conf. on Mineralogy & Museums, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, USA, September 7-9, 2008; Program and Abstract Volume, 26.
A. R. Kampf, P. M. Adams, U. Kolitsch and I. M. Steele (2009): Meurigite-Na, a new species, and the relationship between phosphofibrite and meurigite. Am. Mineral. 94, 720-727.
Internet Links for Meurigite-K
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-7178.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Meurigite-K
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Mineralogical Magazine, 60, 787-793 W.D.Birch 1996. Portlandite and other recent mineral discoveries in the granites at Lake Boga, Wycheproof and Pyramid Hill, Victoria. Australian Journal of Mineralogy Vol.2, No.2, Dec. 1996 |
Brazil | |
| Luiz Menezes |
| Luis Menezes specimens at Denver show, 2008.; Kampf, A. R., Elliott, P., Nash, B. P., Chiappino, L., & Varvello, S. (2018). Jahnsite-(NaMnMg), a new jahnsite-group mineral from the Sapucaia mine, Brazil and the White Rock No. 2 quarry, Australia. The Canadian Mineralogist, 56(6), 871-882. |
Chile | |
| Sulphides analysed by geology dep. of company; sulphates, phosphates, analysed by Bob Jenkins (Usa) 2007 |
Czech Republic | |
| Janouš, F.: Minerály z Kněží hory u Těškova (okres Rokycany), Minerál, 1995, roč. 3, č. 6, s. 367-369. |
| Sejkora J., Cícha J., Jebavá I.: Minerální asociace fosfátů z Čížové u Písku (Česká republika). Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2011, 19, 1, 1-26. |
| S. Mirete photo |
France | |
| Le Règne Minéral, (33), 5-25. |
| Gayraud, L., Gineste, C., Bernadi, G. & Johannet, J.-M. (2011) - Bleys et Puech de Compolibat: deux localités minéralogiques remarquables du massif de leucogranite de La Capelle-Bleys (Aveyron), Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, 111(1), 7-23 |
| Lheur, C. & Meisser, N. (2013): Nouveautés à Fumade (Tarn): clinobisvanite, meurigite-K, sigloite et sudoite. Le Règne Minéral, 110, 52-53. |
Germany | |
| WALENTA, K. and THEYE, T. (2001): Meurigit von der Grube Clara. Aufschluss 52, 243-246. |
| Dill, H.G., Weber, B. (2009), Pleystein-City on Pegmatite, 4th International Symposium on Granitic Pegmatites, Recife, Brazil. |
| http://www.berthold-weber.de/h_miner.htm |
Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001 | |
| Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001 |
USA | |
| NBMG Bull 106 Geology and Mineral Resources of Elko County, Nevada |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
| Dr. William S. Wise presentation to Northwest Micro Mineral Study Group on 1 May 2004, Update on Mineralogy of the Silver Coin Mine, Iron Point District, Edna Mountains, Humboldt Co., Nevada |
| [MinRec 32:297] |
| Mineralogical Magazine 60:787-793.; Rocks & Minerals 84:492-500 |
| Mineral Webzine, Dec. 2001 |
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Sapucaia mine, Sapucaia do Norte, Galiléia, Minas Gerais, Brazil