Bobierrite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Bobierrite
Formula:
Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O
Colour:
Colorless to gray-white; colorless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
2.195
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by James Dwight Dana in 1868 in honor of French agricultural chemist Pierre Adolphe Bobierre (May 7, 1823 Paris, France - September 18, 1881 Nantes, France), who first described the mineral.
Dimorph of:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
701
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:701:8
Similar Names
IMA Classification of Bobierrite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Mg3(PO4)2·8H2O
First published:
1868
Classification of Bobierrite
8.CE.35
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
40.3.7.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
19.3.19
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bob | 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 Bobierrite
Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Pearly cleavages
Colour:
Colorless to gray-white; colorless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}, perfect.
On {010}, perfect.
Density:
2.195 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.17 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured density value is on artificial material.
Optical Data of Bobierrite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.51 - 1.5468 nβ = 1.52 - 1.5533 nγ = 1.543 - 1.582
2V:
Measured: 53° to 71°, Calculated: 52° to 73°
Birefringence:
0.032
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.033 - 0.035
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:
None to Very Low
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
Optical Extinction:
Y = b, Z ∧ c = 27°-29°.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Bobierrite
Mindat Formula:
Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Bobierrite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.667 Å, b = 27.926 Å, c = 10.067 Å
β = 105.01°
β = 105.01°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.167 : 1 : 0.36
Unit Cell V:
1,267.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals acicular or fibrous, minute, elongated [001] and flattened {010}. Also forms rosette-like flattened aggregates; lamellar; crystalline agglomerations; masive.
Comment:
Takagi, S., Mathew, M., and Brown, W. E. (1986) Crystal Structures of Bobierrite and Synthetic Mg3(PO4)2.8H2O. American Mineralogist: 71: 1229-1233.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001048 | Bobierrite | Takagi S, Mathew M, Brown W E (1986) Crystal structures of bobierrite and synthetic Mg3(PO4)2(H2O)8 American Mineralogist 71 1229-1233 |  | 1986 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.96 Å | (100) |
| 8.04 Å | (18) |
| 3.02 Å | (10) |
| 2.94 Å | (27) |
| 2.81 Å | (13) |
| 2.41 Å | (12) |
| 2.13 Å | (10) |
Comments:
Synthetic
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] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Geological Setting:
Guano deposits.
Phosphatic fossils.
Late stage phosphate mineralization in granite pegmatite.
Phosphatic fossils.
Late stage phosphate mineralization in granite pegmatite.
Type Occurrence of Bobierrite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Six-sided minute prismatic crystals forming aggregates, embedded in guano.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, Paris, France, number 4401.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Guano deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bobierrite
Other Language Names for Bobierrite
Dutch:Bobierriet
German:Bobierrit
Russian:Бобьерит
Simplified Chinese:白磷镁石
Spanish:Bobierrita
Traditional Chinese:白磷鎂石
Relationship of Bobierrite to other Species
Chemically related to group(s):
| Vivianite Group | M1M22(XO4)2 · 8H2O |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Bobierrite associated with Collinsite | Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 6 photos of Bobierrite associated with Arthurite | CuFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 5 photos of Bobierrite associated with Kovdorskite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
| 4 photos of Bobierrite associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 2 photos of Bobierrite associated with Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| 1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Juonniite | CaMgSc(PO4)2(OH) · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Bobierrite associated with 'Hydrotalcite-2H' | Mg6Al2(CO3)(OH)16 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CE. | Monteneroite | Cu2+Mn2+2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.CE. | Belmonteite | CaMn2(AsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CE. | Zincocabrerite | ZnMg2(AsO4)2(H2O)8 |
| 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 | Switzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 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.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 |
Fluorescence of Bobierrite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated in a closed tube gives considerable water.
Notes:
Insoluble in water. Readily soluble in acids without effervescence.
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 Bobierrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-701.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Bobierrite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.49
Barth, Tom F. W. (1937) Crystallographic studies in the vivianite group. American Mineralogist, 22 (5) 325-341
Gruner, John W., Stauffer, C. R. (1943) A unique occurrence of bobierrite, Mg3(PO4)2·8H2O. American Mineralogist, 28 (5). 339-340
Frazier, A. William, Lehr, James R., Smith, James P. (1963) The magnesium phosphates hannayite, schertelite and bobierrite. American Mineralogist, 48 (5-6) 635-641
Frost, R. L., Martens, W., Williams, P. A., Kloprogge, J. T. (2002) Raman and infrared spectroscopic study of the vivianite-group phosphates vivianite, baricite and bobierrite. Mineralogical Magazine, 66 (6) 1063-1073 doi:10.1180/0026461026660077
Localities for Bobierrite
Showing 22 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 | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Mason et al. (1974) |
Canada | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
| Robinson et al. (1992) | |
Chile (TL) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
| Atencio et al. (2012) +1 other reference | |
| Gerhard Möhn collection |
China | |
| Yuan et al. (2015) |
Germany | |
| Gerhard Möhn Collection Analyzed by ... |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2022) |
Kenya | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
New Zealand | |
| Railton et al. (1990) | |
Norway | |
| Michel (1893) +1 other reference |
Poland | |
| Ł. Kruszewski PXRD data (to be published soon) +3 other references |
Portugal | |
| Idoia Garate-Olabe et al. (Guarda, Portugal) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler et al. (1991) |
Romania | |
| Onac et al. (1995) |
Russia | |
| Liferovich et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| [World of Stones 95:5-6 +3 other references | |
Ukraine | |
| Chukanov (2005) |
| Shnykov E.F. at al. (1971) |
USA | |
| Gruner et al. (1943) +1 other reference |
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Kovdor Zheleznyi Mine, Kovdor Massif, Kovdorsky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia