Canaphite
A valid IMA mineral species
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Canaphite
Formula:
Na2Ca(P2O7) · 4H2O
Colour:
Colourless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.24
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in 1985 by Donald Ralph Peacor, Pete J. Dunn, William B. Simmons, and Fred John Wicks after its composition, containing CAlcium, sodium (Latin = NAtrium), and PHophorus.
A representative of the very rare (among the minerals) class of pyrophosphates. Compare grahampearsonite, anastasenkoite, wooldridgeite; 'pyrophosphite', 'pyrocoproite', and 'arnhemite'.
See also UM1991-10-PO:BaCaHMgSr.
See https://www.mindat.org/mesg-627852.html for info about the validity of the type material.
See also UM1991-10-PO:BaCaHMgSr.
See https://www.mindat.org/mesg-627852.html for info about the validity of the type material.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
877
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:877:0
IMA Classification of Canaphite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na2CaP2O7·4H2O
Approval year:
1983
Classification of Canaphite
8.FC.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
C : Polyphosphates, etc., with H2O only
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
C : Polyphosphates, etc., with H2O only
40.7.4.
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
7 : Miscellaneous
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
7 : Miscellaneous
19.4.6
19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca
19 : Phosphates
4 : Phosphates of Ca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cnp | 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 Canaphite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
Perfect on {010}; poor on {100} and {001}.
Perfect on {010}; poor on {100} and {001}.
Density:
2.24 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.27 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Canaphite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.496 nβ = 1.504 nγ = 1.506
2V:
Measured: 52° (5), Calculated: 52.9°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
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:
Moderate (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 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:
relatively weak
Chemistry of Canaphite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Ca(P2O7) · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Canaphite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
m - Domatic
Space Group:
Pb
Setting:
Pc
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.673(4) Å, b = 8.48(1) Å, c = 10.529(5) Å
β = 106.13(6)°
β = 106.13(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.669 : 1 : 1.242
Unit Cell V:
486.58 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001137 | Canaphite | Rouse R C, Peacor D R, Freed R L (1988) Pyrophosphate groups in the structure of canaphite, CaNa2P2O7.4(H2O): The first occurrence of a condensed phosphate as a mineral American Mineralogist 73 168-171 |  | 1988 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.06 Å | (100) |
| 2.608 Å | (90) |
| 8.47 Å | (80) |
| 5.44 Å | (80) |
| 4.36 Å | (70) |
| 5.06 Å | (60) |
| 3.87 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 57 : Other minerals formed by human processes |
Type Occurrence of Canaphite
General Appearance of Type Material:
The mineral consists of tiny colorless needles (to about 100 +/- microns) completely covering pieces of stilbite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 160286.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
a trap-rock quarry
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Canaphite
Other Language Names for Canaphite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Canaphite associated with Stilbite Subgroup | M6-7[Al8-9Si27-28O72] · nH2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.FC. | Donowensite | Ca(H2O)3Fe3+2(V2O7)2 |
| 8.FC.X | Hylbrownite | Na3Mg(P3O10) · 12H2O |
| 8.FC.05 | Fianelite | Mn2+2((V,As)2O7) · 2H2O |
| 8.FC.05 | Rüdlingerite | Mn2+2V5+As5+O7 · 2H2O |
| 8.FC.15 | Pintadoite | Ca2(V2O7) · 9H2O |
| 8.FC.20 | 'Arnhemite' | (K,Na)4Mg2(P2O7)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.FC.25 | Wooldridgeite | Na2CaCu2+2(P2O7)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.FC.30 | Kanonerovite | Na3Mn2+(P3O10) · 12H2O |
| 8.FC.35 | Mesaite | CaMn2+5(V2O7)3 · 12H2O |
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 Canaphite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-877.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Canaphite
Reference List:
Peacor, Donald R., Dunn, Pete J., Simmons, William B., Wicks, Frederick J., R.Dunn, Donald, J., Pete (1985) Canaphite, a New Sodium Calcium Phosphate Hydrate from the Paterson Area, New Jersey. The Mineralogical Record, 16 (6) 467-468
Localities for Canaphite
Showing 4 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.
Italy | |
| Gentile et al. (2023) |
Spain | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
USA | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... +1 other reference |
| Peacor et al. (1985) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout CanaphiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Great Notch Corp. Quarry, Great Notch, Little Falls Township, Passaic County, New Jersey, USA