Spencerite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Spencerite
Leonard James Spencer
Formula:
Zn4(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O
Colour:
White, light green; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.123 - 3.145
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after Leonard James Spencer (Worcester, UK,7 July 1870 - London, UK, 14 Apri1 1959), Keeper of Minerals, British Museum of Natural History (London)
An uncommon secondary mineral occurring in some zinc-bearing hydrothermal deposits.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3722
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3722:4
IMA Classification of Spencerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Zn2+4(PO4)2(OH)2·3H2O
First published:
1916
Classification of Spencerite
8.DA.40
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
A : With small (and occasionally larger) cations
42.6.4.2
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
19.6.2
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
19 : Phosphates
6 : Phosphates of Zn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Scrt | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Spencerite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Spencerite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on cleavages.
Colour:
White, light green; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {100}, perfect; on {010}, good; on {001}, distinct.
On {100}, perfect; on {010}, good; on {001}, distinct.
Density:
3.123 - 3.145 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.282 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Spencerite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.586 nβ = 1.602 nγ = 1.606
2V:
Measured: 49°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.020
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:
Moderate (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 biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
small
Chemistry of Spencerite
Mindat Formula:
Zn4(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Spencerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.43 Å, b = 5.27 Å, c = 11.19 Å
β = 116.8°
β = 116.8°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.979 : 1 : 2.123
Unit Cell V:
549.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Pseudo-orthorhombic. Crystals elongated [001], tabular on {100}, terminations commonly blunt and rectabgular with {102}, {001}, and {101}; lance-like at times with large {121} and {221}, with numerous additional forms. Commonly with a columnar to platy structure, stalactitic, massive.
Twinning:
Polysynthetic. Twin and composition plane {100}. The twinning results in {h0l being striated [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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0014456 | Spencerite | Fanfani L, Nunzi A, Zanazzi P F (1972) Structure and twinning in spencerite Mineralogical Magazine 38 687-692 |  | 1972 | Salmo, British Columbia, Canada | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.34 Å | (100) |
| 3.491 Å | (50) |
| 2.3292 Å | (25) |
| 4.590 Å | (19) |
| 3.861 Å | (7) |
| 3.4211 Å | (6) |
| 3.1055 Å | (6) |
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] |
Type Occurrence of Spencerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
The central portion of stalactitic hemimorphite growths.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), Toronto, Canada: M9602, M9610, M9691, M9726.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England.
3) Natural History Museum, Paris, France: 120.22.
4) Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: 98956.
5) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: 121566.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England.
3) Natural History Museum, Paris, France: 120.22.
4) Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: 98956.
5) National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: 121566.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Cave in oxidized zinc ore.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Spencerite
Other Language Names for Spencerite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Spencerite associated with Hemimorphite | Zn4Si2O7(OH)2 · H2O |
| 2 photos of Spencerite associated with Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DA.05 | Bearsite | Be2(AsO4)(OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.05 | Moraesite | Be2(PO4)(OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Zanazziite | Ca2Mg5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Atencioite | Ca2Fe2+3Mg2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Guimarãesite | Ca2Be4Zn5(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Footemineite | Ca2Mn2+Mn2+2Mn2+2Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Greifensteinite | Ca2Fe2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Roscherite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Ruifrancoite | Ca2(◻,Mn)2(Fe3+,Mn,Mg)4Be4(PO4)6(OH)4(OH,H2O)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.10 | Okruschite | Ca2Mn2+5Be4(AsO4)6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DA.15 | Uralolite | Ca2Be4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.DA.20 | Weinebeneite | CaBe3(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DA.25 | Tiptopite | K2(Na,Ca)2Li3Be6(PO4)6(OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.DA.45 | Glucine | CaBe4(PO4)2(OH)4 · 0.5H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in acids.
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 Spencerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3722.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Spencerite
Reference List:
Walker, T. L. (1916) Spencerite, a new Zinc Phosphate from British Columbia. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 18 (83) 76-81 doi:10.1180/minmag.1916.018.83.08
Larsen, E.S.; Berman, H. (1934) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin of the US Geological Survey Vol. 848. US Geological Survey p.1-266. doi:10.3133/b848 p.167
Fanfani, L., Nunzi, A., Zanazzi, P. F. (1972) Structure and twinning in
spencerite. Mineralogical Magazine, 38 (298) 687-692 doi:10.1180/minmag.1972.038.298.05
Localities for Spencerite
Showing 5 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.
Atlantic Ocean | |
| Lyutkevich (2022) |
Botswana | |
| Phili et al. (2024) |
Canada (TL) | |
| Nature (1916) +7 other references |
UK | |
| Dunham et al. (1985) |
Zambia | |
| Braithwaite R.S.W. |
Quick NavTopAbout SpenceriteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPronunciation Physical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Hudson Bay Mine, Salmo, Nelson Mining Division, British Columbia, Canada