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Brianite

A valid IMA mineral species
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01396060017271921629682.jpg
Brian Harold Mason
Formula:
Na2CaMg(PO4)2
Colour:
Colorless
Hardness:
4 - 5
Specific Gravity:
3.00 - 3.10
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
After Dr. Brian Harold Mason (18 April 1917, Port Chalmers, New Zealand – 3 December 2009, Washington D.C., USA), a New Zealandic-American geochemist, mineralogist, and meteoriticist. He graduated from Canterbury University, New Zealand. He served as a Curator of Mineralogy at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and as Curator of Meteorites at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. He was a proponent for the systematic collection of meteorites and studied moon rocks. He was a recipient of the Leonard Medal and the Roebling Medal. The mineral stenhuggarite is also named for him.
Isostructural with:
Merwinite
This page provides mineralogical data about Brianite.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
771
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:771:7

Similar NamesHide

BarroniteA valid IMA mineral species(◻0.5Ba0.5)(UO2)2Si5O12(OH) · 2H2O
BerauniteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredFe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O
BiruniteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionableCa18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?)
BorniteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredCu5FeS4
Bornite (of Pinkerton)A rock subtype
Braunit-IIA synonym of 'Braunite-II'
BrauniteA valid IMA mineral species - grandfatheredMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
BrowneiteA valid IMA mineral speciesMnS

IMA Classification of BrianiteHide

IMA status:
Approved
Approval year:
1966
First published:
1975

Classification of BrianiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
8.AC.30

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 7th ed.:
38.1.7.1
Dana 8th ed.:
38.1.7.1

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:
19.4.9

19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca

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

Physical Properties of BrianiteHide

Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.00 - 3.10 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.13 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of BrianiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.598 nβ = 1.605 nγ = 1.608
2V:
Measured: 63° to 65°, Calculated: 66°
Birefringence:
0.010
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
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
Dispersion:
r < v weak
Optical Extinction:
extinction ^ lamellae = 2-3°
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of BrianiteHide

Mindat Formula:
Na2CaMg(PO4)2
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O42.622 %
P20.628 %
Na15.311 %
Ca13.346 %
Mg8.093 %

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

Crystallography of BrianiteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.36 Å, b = 5.23 Å, c = 9.13 Å
β = 91.2°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.554 : 1 : 1.746
Unit Cell V:
637.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
Am Min (1975) 60:717; ICDD 29-1192

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0011078BrianiteAlkemper J, Fuess H (1998) The crystal structures of NaMgPO4, Na2CaMg(PO4)2 and Na18Ca13Mg5(PO4)18: new examples for glaserite related structures Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 213 282-2871998synthetic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.73 Å(90)
3.34 Å(70)
3.16 Å(60)
2.72 Å(80)
2.68 Å(90)
2.63 Å(10)
2.23 Å(70)
1.875 Å(90)
Comments:
ICDD 29-1192, also 20-1091.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration4.566-4.550
5 : Primary asteroid phases4.566–4.560
6 : Secondary asteroid phases4.566-4.560

Type Occurrence of BrianiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Dayton meteorite, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:
Granular with lamellar structure.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 1506.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Meteorite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
AlbiteEnstatitePanethiteWhitlockite

Synonyms of BrianiteHide

Other Language Names for BrianiteHide

Dutch:Brianiet
German:Brianit
Simplified Chinese:磷镁钙钠石
Spanish:Brianita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.AC.'Crocobelonite-1M'CaFe3+2O(PO4)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
8.AC.MagnesioqingheiiteNa2Mg(MgAl)(PO4)3Mon. 2/m
8.AC.ManganobadaloviteNaNaMn(MgFe3+)(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.Changesite-(Y)(Ca8Y)◻Fe2+(PO4)7Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.Babunaite-(Nd)NdAsO4Tet. 4/m : I41/a
8.AC.CrocobeloniteCaFe3+2O(PO4)2Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.AC.WopmayiteCa6Na3◻Mn(PO4)3(PO3OH)4 Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.BeershevaiteCaFe3+3(PO4)3OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.AC.Epiebnerite(NH4)Zn(PO4)Mon. 2 : P21
8.AC.Ebnerite(NH4)Zn(PO4)Hex. 6 : P63
8.AC.XDyrnaesite-(La)Na8Ce4+(La,REE)2(PO4)6Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.AC.EdtolliteK2NaCu5Fe3+O2(AsO4)4Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.AngarfiteNaFe3+5(PO4)4(OH)4 · 4H2O Orth. 222 : C2221
8.AC.KabaloviteFe2+3Fe3+4(PO4)6Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.Nazarchukite Ca2NiFe3+2(PO4)4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
8.AC.CalciohatertiteNaNaCa(CaFe3+)(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.AlumoedtolliteK2NaCu5AlO2(AsO4)4Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.02GrigorieviteCu3Fe3+2Al2(VO4)6Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.02KoksharoviteCaMg2Fe3+4(VO4)6Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.02ZiminaiteFe3+ 6 (VO4)6Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.05HatertiteNa2(Ca,Na)(Fe3+,Cu)2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05ErikapohliteCu3(Zn,Cu,Mg)4Ca2(AsO4)6 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/m
8.AC.05'Unnamed (Na-Mg Arsenate Hydroxyarsenate)'NaMg3(AsO4)(AsO3OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05'Unnamed (Na-Zn-H Arsenate Hydroxyarsenate)'Na(Na0.6Zn0.4)Zn2(H0.6AsO4)(AsO3OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05CalciojohilleriteNaCaMg3(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05Magnesiohatertite(Na,Ca)2Ca(Mg,Fe3+)2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05 va'Alluaudite-Na[]'◻4Na4Mn2+4Fe3+8(PO4)12Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05 va'Alluaudite-Ca[]'◻4Ca4Mn2+4Fe3+8(PO4)12Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05 va'Ferroalluaudite-NaNa'Na4Na4Fe2+4Fe3+8(PO4)12Mon. 2/m : B2/m
8.AC.05'Hagendorfite-NaNa'NaNaFe2+(Mn2+,Mn3+)(PO4)3 (?)Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05O'DanieliteNa(Zn,Mg)3(AsO4)(AsO3OH)2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05HowardevansiteNaCuFe2(VO4)3Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.05KhrenoviteNa3Fe3+2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05ZincobradaczekiteNaZn2Cu2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05ParaberzeliiteNaCa2Mg2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05BadaloviteNa2Mg2Fe(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05MagnesiocanutiteNaMnMg2[AsO4]2[AsO2(OH)2]Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05ManganohatertiteNaNaCa(MnFe3+)(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.05CamanchacaiteNaCaMg2[AsO4][AsO3(OH)]2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.07ZhanghuifeniteNa3Mn4Mg2Al(PO4)6Mon. 2/m
8.AC.07FerrobobfergusoniteNa2Fe2+5Fe3+Al(PO4)6Mon.
8.AC.10HagendorfiteNaCaMn2+Fe2+2(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10'Ferrohagendorfite'NaCaFe2+Fe2+2(PO4)3Mon.
8.AC.10JohilleriteNa(Mg,Zn)3Cu(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10VaruliteNaCaMn2+Mn2+2(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10NickenichiteNa0.8Ca0.4Cu0.4(Mg,Fe)3(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10ArseniopleiteNaCaMnMn2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m
8.AC.10GroatiteNaCaMn2(PO4)[PO3(OH)]2Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10Alluaudite(Na,Ca)Mn2+(Fe3+,Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)2(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10BradaczekiteNaCu4(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10Caryinite(Na,Pb)(Ca,Na)CaMn2+2(AsO4)3Mon. 2/m
8.AC.10Ferroalluaudite(Na,Ca)Fe2+(Fe3+,Mn2+,Fe2+)2(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.AC.10Maghagendorfite(Na,◻)MgMn2+(Fe2+,Fe3+)2(PO4)3Mon. 2/m
8.AC.15Ferrowyllieite(Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.AC.15QingheiiteNaNaMn2+(MgAl)(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.AC.15Rosemaryite(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Mg)Al(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.AC.15FerroqingheiiteNaNaFe2+(MgAl)(PO4)3Mon. 2/m : P21/m
8.AC.15Ferrorosemaryite◻NaFe2+Fe3+Al(PO4)3Mon. 2/m
8.AC.15BobfergusoniteNa2Mn5FeAl(PO4)6Mon. 2/m : P2/b
8.AC.15Wyllieite(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO4)3Mon. 2/m
8.AC.17CzochralskiiteNa4Ca3Mg(PO4)4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.AC.18ManitobaiteNa16Mn2+ 25Al8(PO4)30Mon. m : Pb
8.AC.20MarićiteNaFe2+(PO4)Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pmna
8.AC.25Schäferite(NaCa2)Mg2(VO4)3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
8.AC.25Berzeliite(NaCa2)Mg2(AsO4)3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
8.AC.25MatyhiteCa18(Ca,◻)2Fe2+2(PO4)14Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.25Hedegaardite(Ca,Na)9(Ca,Na)Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.25Manganberzeliite(NaCa2)Mn2+2(AsO4)3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
8.AC.25Palenzonaite(NaCa2)Mn2+2(VO4)3Iso. m3m(4/m32/m) : Ia3d
8.AC.35Vitusite-(Ce)Na3(Ce,La,Nd)(PO4)2Orth. mm2 : Pca21
8.AC.40Bario-olgite(Ba,Sr)(Na,Sr,REE)2Na(PO4)2 · Trig. 3 : P3
8.AC.40Olgite(Sr,Ba)(Na,Sr,REE)2Na(PO4)2Trig. 3m(32/m) : P3m1
8.AC.45Magnesiochangesite-(Ce)(Ca8Ce)◻Mg(PO4)7Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.45TuiteCa3(PO4)2Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3m
8.AC.45FerromerrilliteCa9NaFe2+(PO4)7Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.45StrontiowhitlockiteSr9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.45Magnesiochangesite-(Y)(Ca8Y)◻ Mg(PO4)7Trig. 3m : R3m
8.AC.45Changesite-(Ce)(Ca8Ce)◻Fe2+(PO4)7Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.45MerrilliteCa9NaMg(PO4)7Trig. 3m : R3m
8.AC.45WhitlockiteCa9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH)Trig. 3m : R3c
8.AC.47IwateiteNa2BaMn(PO4)2Trig. 3 : P3
8.AC.47OzerovaiteNa2KAl3(AsO4)4Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmca
8.AC.47YurmariniteNa7(Fe3+,Mg,Cu)4(AsO4)6Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.AC.47PansneriteK3Na3(Fe3+,Al)6(AsO4)8Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.AC.47AnatolyiteNa6(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe3+)3Al(AsO4)6Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.AC.50FillowiteNa3CaMn2+11(PO4)9Trig. 3 : R3
8.AC.50GalileiiteNa3Fe2+Fe2+11(PO4)9Trig. 3 : R3
8.AC.50JohnsomervilleiteNa3CaFe11(PO4)9Trig. 3 : R3
8.AC.50XenophylliteNa4Fe2+7(PO4)6Tric. 1 : P1
8.AC.50UdinaiteNaMg4(VO4)3Tet. 42m : I42d
8.AC.50ArsenudinaiteNaMg4(AsO4)3Tet. 42m : I42d
8.AC.50ChladniiteNa3CaMg11(PO4)9Trig. 3 : R3
8.AC.52Lasnierite(Ca,Sr)(Mg,Fe2+)2Al(P[O,F]4)3Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
8.AC.55PharmazinciteKZnAsO4Hex. 6 : P63
8.AC.57ZubkovaiteCa3Cu3(AsO4)4Mon. 2 : B2
8.AC.60KosnariteKZr2(PO4)3Trig. 3m(32/m) : R3c
8.AC.65Panethite(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe2+)2(PO4)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b
8.AC.70StanfielditeCa4Mg5(PO4)6Mon.
8.AC.75RonneburgiteK2MnV4O12Mon. 2/m
8.AC.80TillmannsiteAg3Hg[(V,As)O4]Tet. 4 : I4
8.AC.85FilatoviteK(Al,Zn)2(As,Si)2O8Mon. 2/m

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 BrianiteHide

References for BrianiteHide

Localities for BrianiteHide

Showing 5 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.
Cape Verde
 
  • Barlavento Islands
    • Sal Island
Maffeis et al. (2026)
Maffeis et al. (2026)
Poland
 
  • Greater Poland Voivodeship
    • Poznań
Karwowski et al. (2008) +1 other reference
Russia
 
  • Sakha
    • Oymyakonsky District
Litasov et al. (2017) +1 other reference
USA (TL)
 
  • Ohio
    • Montgomery County
      • Dayton
Am Min 60:717-718 +1 other reference
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