Berlinite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Berlinite
Nils Johan Berlin
Formula:
AlPO4
Colour:
Colourless, greyish or pale pink; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
6½
Specific Gravity:
2.64 - 2.66
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Name:
Honouring Professor Nils Johan Berlin (18 February 1812 – 27 December 1891), pharmacologist in the University of Lund, Sweden.
Isostructural with:
The Al-P-analogue of quartz; ordering of Al and P atoms in the crystal structure leads to a doubled c axis.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
633
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:633:8
Similar Names
| Beryllonite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | NaBePO4 |
| Borolanite | A rock subtype | |
| Merlinite | A synonym of 'Chalcedony' |
IMA Classification of Berlinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Berlinite
8.AA.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)
38.4.2.1
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
4 : AXO4
19.7.1
19 : Phosphates
7 : Phosphates of Al alone
19 : Phosphates
7 : Phosphates of Al alone
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ber | 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 Berlinite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, greyish or pale pink; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
6½ on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.64 - 2.66 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.618 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
2.56 (artificial material).
Optical Data of Berlinite
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 1.524 nε = 1.532
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.008
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:
Low (negative)
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.
Chemistry of Berlinite
Mindat Formula:
AlPO4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Fe,Si
Crystallography of Berlinite
Crystal System:
Trigonal
Class (H-M):
32 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
P3121
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.941 Å, c = 10.94 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.214
Unit Cell V:
231.30 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
3
Morphology:
Crystals similar to quartz. Granules to 6 mm; massive.
Twinning:
subparallel twinning lamellae
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0004489 | Berlinite | Onac B P, Effenberger H S (2007) Re-examination of berlinite (AlPO4) from the Cioclovina Cave, Romania American Mineralogist 92 1998-2001 |  | 2007 | Cioclovina Cave, Romania | 0 | 293 |
| 0008136 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008135 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008134 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008133 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008132 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008131 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0008130 | Berlinite | Christie D M, Chelikowsky J R (1998) Structural properties of alpha-berlinite (AlPO4) Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 25 222-226 | 1998 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007999 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007998 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007997 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007996 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007995 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007994 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007993 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007992 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007991 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007990 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007989 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007988 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007987 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 | ||
| 0007986 | Berlinite | Muraoka Y, Kihara K (1997) The temperature dependence of the crystal structure of berlinite, a quartz-type form of AlPO4 Physics and Chemistry of Minerals 24 243-253 | 1997 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.369 Å | (100) |
| 4.28 Å | (25) |
| 1.835 Å | (16) |
| 2.471 Å | (12) |
| 2.306 Å | (12) |
| 1.393 Å | (12) |
| 1.389 Å | (12) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Berlinite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Wroclaw University, Wroclaw, Poland; II-9574.
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; 101252
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; 101252
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Berlinite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Berlinite associated with Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 5 photos of Berlinite associated with Burangaite | NaFe2+Al5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Berlinite associated with Rutile | TiO2 |
| 3 photos of Berlinite associated with Trolleite | Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 |
| 3 photos of Berlinite associated with Lazulite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Berlinite associated with Kyanite | Al2(SiO4)O |
| 2 photos of Berlinite associated with Wagnerite | Mg2(PO4)F |
| 2 photos of Berlinite associated with Ruifrancoite | Ca2(◻,Mn)2(Fe3+,Mn,Mg)4Be4(PO4)6(OH)4(OH,H2O)2 · 4H2O |
| 2 photos of Berlinite associated with Hydroxylherderite | CaBe(PO4)(OH) |
| 2 photos of Berlinite associated with Brazilianite | NaAl3(PO4)2(OH)4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AA.05 | Alarsite | AlAsO4 |
| 8.AA.10 | Beryllonite | NaBePO4 |
| 8.AA.15 | Hurlbutite | CaBe2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AA.20 | Lithiophosphate | Li3PO4 |
| 8.AA.25 | Nalipoite | NaLi2PO4 |
| 8.AA.30 | Olympite | Na5Li(PO4)2 |
Fluorescence of Berlinite
may fluoresce dark red
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Exhibits the same thermal inversions as SiO2, but at somewhat lower temperatures.
Readily soluble in alkalies; virtually insoluble in cold acids.
Readily soluble in alkalies; virtually insoluble in cold acids.
Notes:
Inverts at 583° to a polymorph isotypic with β-SiO2.
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 Berlinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-633.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Berlinite
Reference List:
Huttenlocher, H. F. (1935) Kristallstruktur des Aluminiumorthophosphates AlPO4. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 90 (1-6). 508-516 doi:10.1524/zkri.1935.90.1.508
Strunz, H. (1941) Isotypie von Berlinit mit Quarz. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, 103 (1-6). 228-229 doi:10.1524/zkri.1941.103.1.228
Beck, Warren R. (1949) CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC INVERSIONS OF THE ALUMINUM ORTHOPHOSPHATE POLYMORPHS AND THEIR RELATION TO THOSE OF SILICA. Journal of the American Ceramic Society, 32 (4). 147-151 doi:10.1111/j.1151-2916.1949.tb18940.x
Scott, J. F. (1971) Raman Spectra and Lattice Dynamics of α-Berlinite (AlPO4) Physical Review B, 4 (4) 1360-1366 doi:10.1103/physrevb.4.1360
Ng, H. N., Calvo, C. (1976) X-ray study of the α–β transformation of berlinite (AlPO4). Canadian Journal of Physics, 54. 638-647 doi:10.1139/p76-070
Lang, R., Calvo, C., Datars, W. R. (1977) Phase transformation in AlPO4 and quartz studied by electron paramagnetic resonance of Fe3+. Canadian Journal of Physics, 55. 1613-1620 doi:10.1139/p77-205
Saint-Gregoire, P, Schafer, F J, Kleemann, W, Durand, J, Goifon, A (1984) Birefringence study of the α-β transformation of berlinite, AlPO4. Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics, 17 (8). 1375-1383 doi:10.1088/0022-3719/17/8/012
Arnold, H., Bethke, J., Eckold, G., Hahn, Th., Min-Hua, J. (1984) A neutron scattering study of the incommensurate phase in AlPO4 (berlinite) near the α–β transition. Acta Crystallographica Section A Foundations of Crystallography, 40. C-134 doi:10.1107/s0108767384095878
Byrappa, K.; Srikantaswamy, S.; Prasad, J. Shashidhara (1986) X-ray data for AlPO4 crystals. Journal of Materials Science Letters, 5 (4). 495 doi:10.1007/bf01672375
Snoeck, E., Roucau, C., Saint-Grégoire, P. (1986) Electron microscopy study of the modulated phases in berlinite AlPO4 and quartz. Journal de Physique, 47. 2041-2053 doi:10.1051/jphys:0198600470120204100
Byrappa, K., Prasad, J. Shashidhara, Srikantaswamy, S. (1986) High-temperature X-ray diffraction studies of berlinite crystals. Journal of Materials Science Letters, 5 (11) 1189-1190 doi:10.1007/bf01742243
Schober, H, Dorner, B (1994) Lattice dynamics of berlinite (AlPO4): a comparative study with quartz (SiO2). Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 6 (28). 5351-5372 doi:10.1088/0953-8984/6/28/011
Gregora, I, Magneron, N, Simon, P, Luspin, Y, Raimboux, N, Philippot, E (2003) Raman study of AlPO4 (berlinite) at the α–β transition. Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter, 15 (25). 4487-4501 doi:10.1088/0953-8984/15/25/316
Localities for Berlinite
Showing 39 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 | |
| McQueen et al. (1988) |
| McQueen +3 other references |
| Duggan et al. (1990) +1 other reference |
| Duggan et al. (1990) | |
| Peter Elliott |
| Peter Downes |
Brazil | |
| Franz et al. (2014) |
| Franz et al. (2014) | |
| Cassedanne et al. (1999) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
China | |
| Luo et al. (2014) |
| Zhang et al. (2026) |
Czech Republic | |
| Reif et al. (1989) |
Germany | |
| Pöllmann et al. (1990) |
| Thomas et al. (2000) |
Indonesia | |
| ... |
Italy | |
| Sauro et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
Jordan | |
| Galuskin et al. (2023) |
Madagascar | |
| Ackermand et al. (2006) |
| Morteani et al. (2006) |
Malaysia | |
| McFarlane et al. (2018) |
| Nagarajan | |
Nigeria | |
| Ademila et al. (2017) |
Peru | |
| Miofuvhoedki (2001) |
Portugal | |
| Leal Gomes et al. (2009) |
Romania | |
| Onac et al. (2002) |
| Onac et al. (2002) +4 other references |
Rwanda | |
| Lefèvre et al. (http://www.minsocam.org/msa/special/pig/PIG_articles/Elba%20Abstracts%2012%20Lefevre.pdf) +1 other reference |
| Gallagher et al. (1963) +2 other references |
| Fransolet (1989) | |
| Handbook of Mineralogy (http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/lacroixite.pdf) +1 other reference | |
Spain | |
| Alfonso et al. (2000) +1 other reference |
| & locality references +1 other reference | |
Sweden (TL) | |
| Blomstrand (1868) +1 other reference |
| Weisz et al. (2013) |
| - (2) +4 other references |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
USA | |
| Anthony et al. (1995) |
| King et al. (1994) |
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Hålsjöberg, Torsby, Värmland County, Sweden