Struvite Mineral Data

Struvite Mineral Data +

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General Struvite Information

Chemical Formula:

(NH4)MgPO4·6(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 245.41 gm

Magnesium 9.90 % Mg 16.42 % MgO

Phosphorus 12.62 % P 28.92 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 1.64 % H - % Calc as (NH₄)₂O

Hydrogen 4.93 % H 44.05 % H₂O

Nitrogen 5.71 % N 10.61 % (NH₄)₂O

Oxygen 65.20 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

(NH₄)Mg(PO₄)·6(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845

Locality:

Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the Russian diplomat, H. G. von Struve (1772-1851).

Synonym:

ICSD 14269

PDF 47-1744

Struvite Image

Images:

Struvite

Comments: Opaque, white crystal struvite aggregates in earthy matrix.
Location: Skipton Caves, Victoria, Australia. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Struvite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.6196:1:0.5474

Cell Dimensions:

a = 6.945, b = 11.208, c = 6.1355, Z = 2; V = 477.58 Den(Calc)= 1.71

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - PyramidalH-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: P mn2₁

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 4.257(1), 5.601(0.6), 2.919(0.55),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 0 1 1] [ 1 0 2] [ 1 0 0] [ 0 0 1]

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Crystal Structure:

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Ferraris G , Fuess H , Joswig W , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 42 (1986) p.253-258, Neutron diffraction study of MgNH4PO4*6H2O (struvite), and survey of water molecules donating short hydrogen bonds

Physical Properties of Struvite

Cleavage:

[100] Perfect

Color:

White, Yellowish white, Brownish white.

Density:

1.7

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to Translucent

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.

Habit:

Platy - Sheet forms (e.g. micas).

Hardness:

1.5-2 - Talc-Gypsum

Luster:

Vitreous - Dull

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Struvite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.245 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.237 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2914,KPDmeas= 0.2931,KC= 0.2355

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.495, b=1.496, g=1.504, bire=0.0090, 2V(Calc)=40, 2V(Meas)=37.367.

Calculated Properties of Struvite

Electron Density:

r_electron=1.81 gm/cc
note: r_Struvite=1.71 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.06709
Boson Index = 0.93291

Photoelectric:

PE_Struvite= 0.96 barns/electron
U=PE_Struvite x r_electron= 1.74 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Struvite is Not Radioactive

Struvite Classification

Dana Class:

40.1.1.1 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.1)where A++ B++ (XO4) · x(H2O)

(40.1.1)Dana Group

40.1.1.1 Struvite (NH4)MgPO4·6(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

40.1.1.2 Struvite-K! KMg(PO4)·6(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

Strunz Class:

VII/C.23-10 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/C - Water-bearing phosphates without unfamiliar anions, cations of medium and big size: Fe, Mn, Zn, Mg and Ca, (NH4)1+

VII/C.23 - Struvite - Mundrabillaite series

VII/C.23-10 Struvite (NH4)MgPO4·6(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

VII/C.23-20 Dittmarite (NH4)Mg(PO4)·(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

VII/C.23-30 Niahite (NH4)(Mn,Mg,Ca)PO4·(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

VII/C.23-40 Hannayite (NH4)2Mg3H4(PO4)4·8(H2O) P1 1

VII/C.23-50 Schertelite (NH4)2MgH2(PO4)2·4(H2O) P bca 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/C.23-60 Stercorite H(NH4)Na(PO4)·4(H2O) P1 1

VII/C.23-65 Swaknoite (NH4)2Ca(HPO4)2·(H2O) Unk Ortho

VII/C.23-70 Mundrabillaite (NH4)2Ca(HPO4)2·(H2O) Pm,P 2,P 2/m Mono

Other Struvite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

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Struvite

(NH4)MgPO4·6(H2O)
Dana No: 40.1.1.1 Strunz No: VII/C.23-10
Locality:

Notes: