Switzerite Mineral Data

General Switzerite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Mn++,Fe++)3(PO4)2•7(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 481.55 gm

Manganese 25.67 % Mn 33.15 % MnO

Iron 8.70 % Fe 11.19 % FeO

Phosphorus 12.86 % P 29.48 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 2.93 % H 26.19 % H₂O

Oxygen 49.84 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mn²⁺_2.25Fe²⁺_0.75(PO₄)₂•7(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1967

Locality:

Foote Mineral Co. mine in Kings Mountain, Cleveland County., North Carolina, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for George Switzer, retired chairman of the Dept. of Mineral Sciences, Smithsonian

Name Pronunciation:

Switzerite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 202111

PDF 20-Mar

Switzerite Image

Images:

Switzerite

Comments: Pale brown sub-metallic thin platy switzerite coatings.
Location: Foote Mine, King's Mountain, Cleveland County, North Carolina, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Switzerite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.6477:1:0.8971

Cell Dimensions:

a = 8.528, b = 13.166, c = 11.812, Z = 4; beta = 110.05° V = 1,245.87 Den(Calc)= 2.57

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/a

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 11.12(1), 3.37(0.9), 6.81(0.6),

Crystal Structure:

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Zanazzi P F , Leavens P B , White J S , American Mineralogist , 71 (1986) p.1224-1228, Crystal structure of switzerite, Mn3(PO4)2.7H2O and its relationship to, metaswitzerite, Mn3(PO4)2.4H2O

Physical Properties of Switzerite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect

Color:

Brown, Pink.

Density:

2.535

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to Translucent

Hardness:

2 - Gypsum

Luster:

Vitreous - Pearly

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Switzerite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.017 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.031 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2223,KPDmeas= 0.2254,KC= 0.2293
Ncalc = 1.58 - 1.59

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.56, b=1.574, g=1.58, bire=0.0200, 2V(Calc)=64, 2V(Meas)=70.

Calculated Properties of Switzerite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.52 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Switzerite =2.54 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0020876107
Boson Index = 0.9979123893

Photoelectric:

PE_Switzerite= 9.61 barns/electron
U=PE_Switzerite x rElectron Density= 24.25 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Switzerite is Not Radioactive

Switzerite Classification

Dana Class:

40.03.05.04 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.03)where (A++)3 (XO4)2 · x(H2O)

(40.03.05)Ludlamite Group

40.03.05.01 Ludlamite (Fe,Mg,Mn)3(PO4)2•4(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

40.03.05.02 Metaswitzerite Mn3(PO4)2•4(H2O) P 2/a 2/m

40.03.05.03 Sterlinghillite Mn3(AsO4)2•3(H2O) Mono Mono

40.03.05.04 Switzerite (Mn,Fe)3(PO4)2•7(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Strunz Class:

08.CE.25 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.C - Phosphates without Additional Anions, with H2O

08.CE -With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O £ 1:2.5

08.CE.25 Metaswitzerite Mn3(PO4)2•4(H2O) P 2/a 2/m

08.CE.25 Switzerite (Mn,Fe)3(PO4)2•7(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Other Switzerite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Switzerite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Ask about Switzerite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Switzerite Specimen Label here :

Switzerite

(Mn++,Fe++)3(PO4)2•7(H2O)
Dana No: 40.03.05.04 Strunz No: 08.CE.25
Locality:

Notes: