Sincosite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Thomas Loomis
About Sincosite
Formula:
Ca(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O
Colour:
Grass-green, yellow- to olive-green, brownish green, blue-green; light green, olive-green, brownish green, yellowish green, bluish green in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
2.84 - 2.98
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Member of:
Name:
Named after its discovery locality at Sincos, Junín, Cerro de Pasco, Alcides Carrión Province, Pasco Department, Peru.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Determined structures for sincosite are triclinic (see Sincosite (triclinic polytype)), as is its arsenate analogue fulbrightite. Disorder, poor crystallinity, and quasi-tetragonal symmetry of its vanadyl-phosphate sheets make determination of the correct space group and structure difficult for most samples. In the absence of a tetragonal structure, the P1 "triclinic polytype" cannot be demonstrated to be a polytype and may simply be the correct space group assignment for the mineral. However, as this is a layered structure, we cannot rule out polytypism from translation of the interlayer Ca(H2O)4 groups. (C. Emproto 1/2026)
Triclinic (1A) sincosite is isostructural with fulbrightite. Related to other members of the sincosite group through polytypism.
Structurally related to the meta-autunite group.
Triclinic (1A) sincosite is isostructural with fulbrightite. Related to other members of the sincosite group through polytypism.
Structurally related to the meta-autunite group.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3671
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3671:5
Similar Names
| Native Zinc | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Zn |
| Zincite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | ZnO |
| Zinkenite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Pb9Sb22S42 |
| Zinkosite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionable | ZnSO4 |
Classification of Sincosite
Sincosite-type sheet
The sincosite-type sheet.
IMA Classification of Sincosite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca(V4+O)2(PO4)2·4H2O
First published:
1922
Type description reference:
8.CJ.65
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
42.11.19.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
19.10.10
19 : Phosphates
10 : Phosphates of Pb, Th, V and Bi
19 : Phosphates
10 : Phosphates of Pb, Th, V and Bi
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Scs | 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 Sincosite
Vitreous, Pearly, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on basal cleavage; submetallic if partially dehydrated
Colour:
Grass-green, yellow- to olive-green, brownish green, blue-green; light green, olive-green, brownish green, yellowish green, bluish green in transmitted light.
Comment:
Typically zoned parallel to {001}.
Streak:
Green
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On (001) perfect, on {110} good, on {010} poor.
On (001) perfect, on {110} good, on {010} poor.
Density:
2.84 - 2.98 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.97 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Actual value for measured density is ~2.84 to 2.98.
Optical Data of Sincosite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.67 - 1.675 nβ = 1.69 nγ = 1.693 - 1.694 nω = 1.68 nε = 1.655
2V:
Measured: 10° to 83°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.025
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
E = X = Nearly colourless to pale yellow
O = Z = Grey-green
O = Z = Grey-green
Comments:
Partially biaxial (-) if dehydrated.
Chemistry of Sincosite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Sincosite
Polytype:
Formula:
Crystal System:
Class (H-M)
Space Group:
Space Group Setting:
Cell Parameters:
Ratio:
Unit Cell Volume (calc):
Z:
Comment:
| Sincosite (triclinic polytype) |
|---|
| Ca(VO)2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| Triclinic |
| 1 - Pedial |
| P1 |
| a = 6.3531(12) Å, b = 6.3567(14) Å, c = 6.6050(18) Å α = 106.995(22)°, β = 94.115(19)°, γ = 90.006(16)° |
| a:b:c = 0.999 : 1 : 1.039 |
| V 254.37 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell) |
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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Perspective On | Perspective Off
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015719 | Sincosite | Franke W A, Luger P, Weber M, Ivanova T I (1997) Low hydrothermal growth of sincosite Ca(VO/PO4)2*4H2O Zapiski Vserossijskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva 126N2 85-86 | 1997 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012705 | Sincosite | Kang H Y, Lee W C, Wang S L (1992) Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of four layered vanadyl(IV) phosphate hydrates A(VO)2(PO4)2*4H2O (A=Co,Ca,Sr,Pb) Inorganic Chemistry 31 4743-4748 | 1992 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.35 Å | (100) |
| 3.190 Å | (80) |
| 3.511 Å | (60) |
| 2.682 Å | (50) |
| 2.907 Å | (40) |
| 2.100 Å | (40) |
| 3.841 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Type Occurrence of Sincosite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: #99139, 101699. U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #95096.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Veinlets in Cretaceous black carbonaceous shale
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Sincosite
Other Language Names for Sincosite
Relationship of Sincosite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Sincosite Group:
| Airdite | Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
| Bariosincosite | Ba(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tet. |
| Fulbrightite | Ca(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 23 photos of Sincosite associated with Minyulite | KAl2(PO4)2F · 4H2O |
| 12 photos of Sincosite associated with Phosphovanadylite-Ca | Ca[V4+4P2O12(OH)4] · 12H2O |
| 6 photos of Sincosite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Sincosite associated with Native Selenium | Se |
| 2 photos of Sincosite associated with Fernandinite | (Ca,K)(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 10H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CJ. | Airdite | Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Dobšináite | Ca2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Caesiumpharmacosiderite | CsFe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Jeankempite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CJ.05 | Stercorite | (NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Swaknoite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Mundrabillaite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nabaphite | NaBaPO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nastrophite | Na(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.20 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Rhabdophane-(Y) | YPO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.27 | 'Churchite-(Dy)' | (Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.30 | Ferrarisite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Fulbrightite | Ca(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Machatschkiite | (Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Rauenthalite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Brockite | (Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Smirnovskite | (Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(La) | La(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Grayite | (Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Štěpite | U(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.47 | Vysokýite | U4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Y) | Y(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Ardealite | Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | 'Churchite-(Nd)' | Nd(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.55 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.60 | Dorfmanite | Na2(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Bariosincosite | Ba(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.70 | Catalanoite | Na2(PO3OH) · 8H2O |
| 8.CJ.75 | Guérinite | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
| 8.CJ.85 | Ningyoite | (U,Ca,Ce)2(PO4)2 · 1-2H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in dilute acids to a blue solution. Insoluble in water.
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 Sincosite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3671.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Sincosite
Reference List:
Anthony, John W., Bideaux, Richard A., Bladh, Kenneth W., Nichols, Monte C. - Eds. (2016) Handbook of Mineralogy. https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/
Localities for Sincosite
Showing 15 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Germany | |
| Witzke et al. (2001) |
Peru (TL) | |
| Progr. Abstr. et al. (1948) +2 other references |
Spain | |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
| Dill et al. (2023) | |
USA | |
| Howard (2017) |
| Howard +1 other reference | |
| Ream (1995) |
| Mandarino (1999) |
| [Sincosite (triclinic polytype)] Kampf et al. (2013) |
| Newmont Mining Corporation |
| Jensen et al. (1995) |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| NMBMMR Memoir 15 Geology and Technology ... | |
| Loomis (1999) |
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Ross Hannibal Mine, Lead Mining District, Lawrence County, South Dakota, USA