Switzerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Switzerite
George S. Switzer
Formula:
Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 7H2O
Colour:
Pale pink, pinkish brown
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.535
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by John S. White and Peter B. Leavens in 1967 in honor of George Shirley Switzer (11 June 1915 Petaluma, California, USA - 23 March 2008), Curator of Minerals, US National Museum (Smithsonian Institution), Washington D.C., USA.
In 1986, White, Leavans, and Pier F. Zanazzi redefined switzerite and renamed the original type material as metaswitzerite.
In 1986, White, Leavans, and Pier F. Zanazzi redefined switzerite and renamed the original type material as metaswitzerite.
NOTE: Switzerite rapidly and irreversibly dehydrates in air within minutes to Metaswitzerite which contains only four water molecules per formula unit. All "switzerites" in collections should be considered metaswitzerites, unless there is some analytical evidence to the contrary.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3848
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3848:1
IMA Classification of Switzerite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mn2+3(PO4)2·7H2O
First published:
1986
Classification of Switzerite
8.CE.25
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O about 1:2.5
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O about 1:2.5
40.3.5.4
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
19.12.23
19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
19 : Phosphates
12 : Phosphates of Mn
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Swt | 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 Switzerite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on {001}
Colour:
Pale pink, pinkish brown
Comment:
Becoming yellowish or brownish on dehydration.
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
{001}
Comment:
Somewhat flexible.
Density:
2.535 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.562 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Switzerite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.560(1) nβ = 1.574(1) nγ = 1.580(1)
2V:
Measured: 70° , Calculated: 66°
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:
r > v moderate
Chemistry of Switzerite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Switzerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.528(4) Å, b = 13.166(5) Å, c = 11.812(4) Å
β = 110.05(3)°
β = 110.05(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.648 : 1 : 0.897
Unit Cell V:
1,245.87 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Bladed crystals, flattened on {100} and elongated on [001].
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
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Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001047 | Switzerite | Zanazzi P F, Leavens P B, White J S (1986) Crystal structure of switzerite, Mn3(PO4)2.7H2O and its relationship to metaswitzerite, Mn3(PO4)2.4H2O American Mineralogist 71 1224-1228 |  | 1986 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 11.12 Å | (100) |
| 8.47 Å | (50) |
| 3.37 Å | (90) |
| 2.94 Å | (30) |
| 2.353 Å | (40) |
| 2.137 Å | (50) |
| 1.612 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 22 : Hydration and low-? subsurface aqueous alteration (see also #23) |
Type Occurrence of Switzerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crystals, tabular on {001} or bladed and elongated on {100}. The size is less than 5 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom, number BM 1967,407.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, USA, number 120871.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, USA, number 120871.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A late stage hydrothermal mineral formed in fractures and seams cutting granite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Switzerite
Dutch:Switzeriet
German:Switzerit
Russian:Свитцерит
Simplified Chinese:水磷铁锰石
Spanish:Switzerita
Traditional Chinese:水磷鐵錳石
Relationship of Switzerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Ludlamite Group:
| Ludlamite | Fe2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Metaswitzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
| Sterlinghillite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Switzerite associated with Scholzite | CaZn2(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 4 photos of Switzerite associated with Rockbridgeite | (Fe2+0.5Fe3+0.5)2Fe3+3(PO4)3(OH)5 |
| 4 photos of Switzerite associated with Parahopeite | Zn3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 2 photos of Switzerite associated with Cryptomelane | K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16 |
| 2 photos of Switzerite associated with Arsenopyrite | FeAsS |
| 1 photo of Switzerite associated with Rhodochrosite | MnCO3 |
| 1 photo of Switzerite associated with Bermanite | Mn2+Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Switzerite associated with Jahnsite-(CaMnFe) | {Ca}{Mn2+}{Fe2+2}{Fe3+2}(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CE. | Monteneroite | Cu2+Mn2+2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE. | Belmonteite | CaMn2(AsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CE.X | Babánekite | Cu3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.05 | Chudobaite | Mg5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CE.05 | Geigerite | Mn2+5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CE.10 | Newberyite | Mg(PO3OH) · 3H2O |
| 8.CE.10 | Manganonewberyite | Mn(PO3OH)(H2O)3 |
| 8.CE.15 | Fanguangite | (MoO2)(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CE.15 | Brassite | Mg(HAsO4) · 4H2O |
| 8.CE.20 | Phosphorrösslerite | Mg(PO3OH) · 7H2O |
| 8.CE.20 | Rösslerite | Mg(HAsO4) · 7H2O |
| 8.CE.25 | Metaswitzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CE.30 | Pradetite | CoCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CE.30 | Veselovskýite | ZnCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CE.30 | Lindackerite | CuCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CE.30 | Klajite | MnCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9-10H2O |
| 8.CE.30 | Hloušekite | (Ni,Co)Cu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CE.30 | Ondrušite | CaCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CE.35 | Bobierrite | Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Barićite | (Mg,Fe)3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Parasymplesite | Fe2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Gritsenkoite | CoMg2(AsO4)2(H2O)8 |
| 8.CE.40 | Cabrerite | NiMg2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Pakhomovskyite | Co3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Vivianite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Arupite | Ni3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Hörnesite | Mg3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Manganohörnesite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Köttigite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Ferrisymplesite | Fe3+3(AsO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.CE.40 | Annabergite | Ni3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.45 | Symplesite | Fe2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.50 | Cattiite | Mg3(PO4)2 · 22H2O |
| 8.CE.55 | Koninckite | Fe3+PO4 · 3H2O |
| 8.CE.60 | Kaňkite | FeAsO4 · 3.5H2O |
| 8.CE.60 | Hilarionite | Fe3+2(SO4)(AsO4)(OH) · 6H2O |
| 8.CE.65 | Steigerite | Al(VO4) · 3H2O |
| 8.CE.70 | Metaschoderite | Al2(PO4)(VO4) · 6H2O |
| 8.CE.70 | Schoderite | Al2(PO4)(VO4) · 8H2O |
| 8.CE.75 | Zigrasite | MgZr(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CE.75 | 'UM2009-11-PO:CaHZr' | CaZr[PO4]2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CE.75 | Malhmoodite | FeZr(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CE.80 | Santabarbaraite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.CE.85 | Metaköttigite | (Zn,Fe,Fe)3(AsO4)2 · 8(H2O,OH) |
| 8.CE.90 | Slavkovite | Cu13(AsO4)6(AsO3OH)4 · 23H2O |
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Dehydrates within minutes to metaswitzerite.
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 Switzerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3848.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 Switzerite
Reference List:
Leavens, Peter B., White, John S. (1967) Switzerite, (Mn,Fe)3(PO4)2·4H2O, a new mineral. American Mineralogist, 52 (11-12) 1595-1602
White, J. S., Leavens, P. B., Zanazzi, P. F. (1986) Switzerite redefined as Mn3(PO4)2·7H2O, and metaswitzerite, Mn3(PO4)2·4H2O. American Mineralogist, 71 (9-10) 1221-1223
Localities for Switzerite
Showing 32 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.
Australia | |
| Pring et al. (1993) +1 other reference |
| Johnston et al. (1978) +1 other reference |
Brazil | |
| Tony Nikischer and Luis Menezes |
| Sergio Varvello collection | |
| Found and analyzed by Dr Ricardo Scholz | |
Canada | |
| 153-155. +1 other reference |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
| Robinson et al. (1992) | |
Finland | |
| Lahti (1981) |
| Lahti (1981) | |
| Geological Survey of Finland Bulletin ... | |
| Lahti |
Germany | |
| web.archive.org (2001) +1 other reference |
| Bender et al. (1994) +2 other references |
Italy | |
| VIGNOLA et al. (2007) |
| Vignola P. et al. (2011) | |
Japan | |
| K. Nishikubo et al. (2005) |
Portugal | |
| Rewitzer et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
| Grey et al. (2024) | |
Romania | |
| Hirtopanu et al. (2015) |
Spain | |
| Calvo Rebollar et al. (2022) |
UK | |
| - (2003) |
USA | |
| Dunn et al. (1984) +1 other reference |
| Januzzi et al. (1976) |
| Gene Bearss |
| Ray Sprague +1 other reference |
| King et al. (1994) +1 other reference |
| King et al. (6) | |
| Neil Wintringham |
| |
| Horton et al. (1981) +3 other references |
| Campbell et al. (1985) |
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Hagendorf South Pegmatite, Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany