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Epifanovite

A valid IMA mineral species
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08421570017272472912446.jpg
Epifanovite, etc.

Kester deposit, Kester harpolith, Arga-Ynnakh-Khaya granite Massif, Yana-Adycha Region, Yana River Basin, Verkhoyansk District, Sakha, Russia
08421570017272472912446.jpg
Epifanovite, etc.

Kester deposit, Kester harpolith, Arga-Ynnakh-Khaya granite Massif, Yana-Adycha Region, Yana River Basin, Verkhoyansk District, Sakha, Russia
08421570017272472912446.jpg
Epifanovite, etc.

Kester deposit, Kester harpolith, Arga-Ynnakh-Khaya granite Massif, Yana-Adycha Region, Yana River Basin, Verkhoyansk District, Sakha, Russia
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About EpifanoviteHide

02626160017272472927126.jpg
P. P. Epifanov
Formula:
NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2O
Colour:
Turquoise blue
Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.65
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
The mineral is named in honor of P. P. Epifanov, Russian geologist and the discoverer of the Kester tin deposit.
The third known mineral to contain phosphate and arsenate (actually dihydroxoarsenate(V)) at separate structural positions (i.e., not substituting for each other) after machatschkiite and walentaite. Considering this separation, the chemical combination in epifanovite is unique among the known (accepted) minerals.

Related to sampleite and andyrobertsite. It may be considered as a more hydrated dihydroxoarsenate equivalent of sampleite.

Epifanovite is structurally close to lavendulan-group minerals (polytypes) and related species: andyrobertsite, calcioandyrobertsite-1M, mahnertite and richelsdorfite.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
50773
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:50773:0

IMA Classification of EpifanoviteHide

Classification of EpifanoviteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
8.CH.70

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
H : With large and medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O < 1:1

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
EfvIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of EpifanoviteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Dull
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Dull in crusts
Colour:
Turquoise blue
Streak:
Pale blue
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on (001) and good on (100) and (010)
Density:
3.65(3) g/cm3 (Measured)    3.73 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of EpifanoviteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.708(5) nβ = 1.730(5) nγ = 1.735(5)
2V:
Measured: 40° to 45°, Calculated: 50°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.027
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.

Surface Relief:
Moderate

Chemistry of EpifanoviteHide

Mindat Formula:
NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2] · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O42.033 %
Cu30.916 %
P12.055 %
As7.290 %
Ca3.900 %
Na2.237 %
H1.569 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
As, Ca, Cu, H, Na, O, P - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of EpifanoviteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Setting:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.6911(8) Å, b = 9.7547(9) Å, c = 9.963(1) Å
β = 102.24(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.993 : 1 : 1.021
Unit Cell V:
920.43 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Tabular pseudotetragonal crystals up to 50 μm across and 10 μm thick.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of EpifanoviteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Kester deposit, Kester harpolith, Arga-Ynnakh-Khaya granite Massif, Yana-Adycha Region, Yana River Basin, Verkhoyansk District, Sakha, Russia
General Appearance of Type Material:
Crusts of tabular pseudo-tetragonal crystals up to 50 µm across and 10 μm thick.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Collections of the Mineralogical Museum of the St. Petersburg State University, Russia (catalogue No. 19658/1)
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Na0.94K0.06)Σ1.00Ca0.82Na0.08)Σ0.90(Cu5.04Zn0.06)Σ5.10(PO4)4[(As0.81P0.19)Σ1.00(O1.92OH2.06Cl0.02)Σ4.00]7.37H2O
Geological Setting of Type Material:
It was found in a quartz-phosphate nest within greisenized cassiterite-rich grano-diorite of the Kester tin deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
ArsenoliteNative CopperFluorapatiteLibethenitePseudomalachite
SlavkoviteTobermorite
Reference:
Yakovenchuk, V. N., Pakhomovsky, Ya. A., Konoplyova, N. G., Panikorovskii, T. L., Mikhailova, Yu. A., Bocharov, V. N., Krivovichev, S. V., Ivanyuk, G. Yu. (2018) Epifanovite, NaCaCu5(PO4)4[AsO2(OH)2]·7H2O: a New Mineral from the Kester Deposit, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic, Russia. Geology of Ore Deposits, 60 (7) 587-593 doi:10.1134/s1075701518070103

Synonyms of EpifanoviteHide

Other Language Names for EpifanoviteHide

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Epifanovite associated with FluorapatiteCa5(PO4)3F
2 photos of Epifanovite associated with Native CopperCu
1 photo of Epifanovite associated with PseudomalachiteCu5(PO4)2(OH)4
1 photo of Epifanovite associated with SergeysmirnoviteMgZn2(PO4)2 · 4H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.CH.05Natrowalentaite[Fe3+0.5Na0.5(H2O)6][NaAs3+2(Fe3+2.33W6+0.67)(PO4)2O7]Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
8.CH.05Walentaite[Mn2+(H2O)6][◻As3+3Fe3+3(PO4)2O7]Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
8.CH.05Halilsarpite[Mg(H2O)6][CaAs3+2(Fe3+2.67Mo6+0.33)(AsO4)2O7]Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Imma
8.CH.10AnapaiteCa2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CH.15PicropharmacoliteCa4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 11H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CH.20Dittmarite(NH4)Mg(PO4) · H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.20Niahite(NH4)Mn2+(PO4) · H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.25TaranakiteK3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 18H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.CH.25FrancoanelliteK3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 12H2OTrig.
8.CH.25Macivorite(NH4)3Al5(PO3OH)6(PO4)2 · 18H2OTrig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.CH.30Schertelite(NH4)2MgH2(PO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
8.CH.35Hannayite(NH4)2Mg3H4(PO4)4 · 8H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CH.40HazeniteKNaMg2(PO4)2 · 14H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.CH.40Struvite-(K)KMg(PO4) · 6H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.40Struvite(NH4)Mg(PO4) · 6H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.CH.45Rimkorolgite(Mg,Mn)5(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO4)4 · 8H2OOrth.
8.CH.50BakhchisaraitseviteNa2Mg5(PO4)4 · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CH.55SmolyaninoviteCo3Fe3+2(AsO4)4 · 11H2OOrth.
8.CH.55FahleiteCaZn5Fe3+2(AsO4)6 · 14H2OOrth.
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Fe)(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Fe3+2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
8.CH.60Barahonaite-(Al)(Ca,Cu,Na,Fe3+,Al)12Al2(AsO4)8(OH,Cl)x · nH2OMon. 2/m : P2/b
8.CH.75Esdanaite-(Ce)NaMnCe(PO4)2 · 4H2OOrth. 222 : P212121

Other InformationHide

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 EpifanoviteHide

References for EpifanoviteHide

Localities for EpifanoviteHide

Showing 1 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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.
Russia (TL)
 
  • Sakha
    • Verkhoyansk District
      • Yana River Basin
        • Yana-Adycha Region
          • Arga-Ynnakh-Khaya granite Massif
            • Kester harpolith
Hålenius et al. (2016) +2 other references
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