Biphosphammite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Biphosphammite
Formula:
NH4(H2PO4)
Colour:
White, pale yellow or colorless; colorless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Waxy, Dull, Earthy
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
2.04
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Name:
Named in 1870 by Charles Upham Shepard for the chemical composition containing phosphate and ammonium.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
678
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:678:1
IMA Classification of Biphosphammite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
H2(N3-H4)PO4
First published:
1870
Type description reference:
Classification of Biphosphammite
8.AD.15
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
D : With only large cations
Dana 7th ed.:
37.1.4.1
37.1.4.1
37 : ANHYDROUS ACID PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : Miscellaneous
37 : ANHYDROUS ACID PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES AND VANADATES
1 : Miscellaneous
19.1.8
19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
19 : Phosphates
1 : Phosphates of the alkali metals
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bpam | 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 Biphosphammite
Waxy, Dull, Earthy
Transparency:
Translucent
Comment:
Due to fine-grained material
Colour:
White, pale yellow or colorless; colorless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.04 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.99 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Also calculated = 1.80
Optical Data of Biphosphammite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.525 nε = 1.48
Birefringence:
0.045
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.045
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.
Optical Extinction:
parallel
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Biphosphammite
Mindat Formula:
NH4(H2PO4)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Biphosphammite
Crystal System:
Tetragonal
Class (H-M):
422 - Trapezohedral
Space Group:
I4122
Setting:
I4122
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.494 Å, c = 7.340 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.979
Unit Cell V:
412.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Fine-grained granular crust.
Comment:
AC B 29:2721 (1973); Also a 7.502, c 7.554
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
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View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Rotation
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Labels
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0009493 | Biphosphammite | Khan A A, Baur W H (1973) Refinement of the crystal structures of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and ammonium dihydrogen arsenate Acta Crystallographica B29 2721-2726 |  | 1973 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.32 Å | (100) |
| 3.75 Å | (60) |
| 3.08 Å | (90) |
| 3.07 Å | (90) |
| 2.66 Å | (20) |
| 2.65 Å | (20) |
| 2.02 Å | (40) |
| 2.01 Å | (40) |
Comments:
ICDD 37-1479; also 6-125, 29-74.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
Geological Setting:
Guano caves
Type Occurrence of Biphosphammite
General Appearance of Type Material:
White, powdery effluorescence
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Western Australian Museum, Perth, MDC3977.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Guano deposits
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Biphosphammite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AD. | 'Unnamed (Monoclinic polymorph of ximengite)' | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD. | Keplerite | Ca9(Ca0.5◻0.5)Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Mazorite | Ba3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD. | Deynekoite | Ca9◻Fe3+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AD. | Monazite-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.05 | Nahpoite | Na2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.10 | Weilite | Ca(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.10 | Švenekite | Ca(H2AsO4)2 |
| 8.AD.10 | Monetite | Ca(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.15 | Archerite | (K,NH4)(H2PO4) |
| 8.AD.20 | Phosphammite | (NH4)2(PO3OH) |
| 8.AD.25 | Buchwaldite | NaCa(PO4) |
| 8.AD.30 | Schulténite | Pb(HAsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Dreyerite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(La) | La(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Anningite-(Ce) | (Ca0.5Ce4+0.5)(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Pretulite | Sc(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Ce) | Ce(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Y) | Y(VO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Yb) | Yb(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | 'Chernovite-(Ce)' | (Ce,Y)(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Gd) | Gd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Chernovite-(Y) | Y(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Xenotime-(Y) | Y(PO4) |
| 8.AD.35 | Wakefieldite-(Nd) | Nd(VO4) |
| 8.AD.40 | Pucherite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.45 | Ximengite | Bi(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | 'UM2005-35-VO:CaFePSiTh' | (Th,Ca)(VO4,SiO4,PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Rooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(Ce) | Ce(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Sm) | Sm(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(La) | La(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Monazite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Gasparite-(La) | La(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.50 | Cheralite | CaTh(PO4)2 |
| 8.AD.55 | Tetrarooseveltite | Bi(AsO4) |
| 8.AD.60 | Chursinite | [Hg2]2+Hg2+2[AsO4]2 |
| 8.AD.65 | Clinobisvanite | Bi(VO4) |
| 8.AD.70 | Gurimite | Ba3(VO4)2 |
| 8.AD.75 | Picaite | NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] |
Other Information
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 Biphosphammite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-678.html
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References for Biphosphammite
Reference List:
Pryce, M. W. (1972) Biphosphammite: a second occurrence. Mineralogical Magazine, 38 (300) 965-967 doi:10.1180/minmag.1972.038.300.08
Localities for Biphosphammite
Showing 14 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 | |
| Snow et al. (2014) |
| Pryce (1972) |
| Bridge (1974) |
| Bridge (1977) | |
Bahamas | |
| Onac B.P. et al. (2009) |
Botswana | |
| Anthony et al. (2016) |
Chile | |
| De Waele et al. (2009) |
| De Waele et al. (2017) | |
Namibia | |
| Martini et al. (1999) |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... | |
Peru | |
| Shepard (1870) |
Saudi Arabia | |
| Saudi Geological Survey Open-File ... +1 other reference |
United Arab Emirates | |
| Audra et al. (2017) |
USA | |
| Kampf et al. (2025) |
Quick NavTopAbout BiphosphammiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Guañape Islands, Virù Province, La Libertad, Peru