Churchite-(Y)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Churchite-(Y)
Arthur H. Church
Formula:
Y(PO4) · 2H2O
Colour:
Colorless, white, gray, yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy, Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.14
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1865 by Charles H. Greville Williams in honor of Arthur Herbert Church [June 2, 1834 London, England, UK – May 31, 1915 Shelsley, Kew Gardens, England, UK]. Church was the first to examine absorption spectra of gemstones for identification purposes. He was a chemist and mineralogist. He wrote five books and was an authority on a variety of fields including paint chemistry, porcelain, and organic/agricultural chemistry. He named several mineral species.
The original chemical analysis of churchite (1865) indicated 51.87 wt.% of Ce2O3 with some didymium (from Cornwall). Unfortunately, the real chemical composition of the material was primarily Y-dominant, with minor amounts of La, Nd, and Er. The phosphate mineral weinschenkite (now a synonym of churchite) was described by Heinrich Laubmann in 1923 from Bavaria. Dana's 7th edition, volume II (1951) "System of Mineralogy" covered the species as two entries, both as "Weinschenkite" and as "Churchite," with the formula of the former being Y-dominant and the latter being Ce-dominant. Claringbull and Hey (1953) re-examined churchite and found that it was Y-dominant and contained little cerium. Because the name weinschenkite had been used twice, Claringbull and Hey (1953) maintained churchite as weinschenkite, earlier, had been given to a hornblende-like amphibole in 1922 by G. Murgoci. Following the guidelines of the Levinson nomenclature (Levinson, 1966), Michael Fleischer (1987, Glossary of Mineral Species) added -(Y) to churchite.
The original chemical analysis of churchite (1865) indicated 51.87 wt.% of Ce2O3 with some didymium (from Cornwall). Unfortunately, the real chemical composition of the material was primarily Y-dominant, with minor amounts of La, Nd, and Er. The phosphate mineral weinschenkite (now a synonym of churchite) was described by Heinrich Laubmann in 1923 from Bavaria. Dana's 7th edition, volume II (1951) "System of Mineralogy" covered the species as two entries, both as "Weinschenkite" and as "Churchite," with the formula of the former being Y-dominant and the latter being Ce-dominant. Claringbull and Hey (1953) re-examined churchite and found that it was Y-dominant and contained little cerium. Because the name weinschenkite had been used twice, Claringbull and Hey (1953) maintained churchite as weinschenkite, earlier, had been given to a hornblende-like amphibole in 1922 by G. Murgoci. Following the guidelines of the Levinson nomenclature (Levinson, 1966), Michael Fleischer (1987, Glossary of Mineral Species) added -(Y) to churchite.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1047
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1047:0
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8083a7b4-346b-4740-8d9e-96d1edb39235
IMA Classification of Churchite-(Y)
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Churchite-(Y)
8.CJ.50
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
40.4.6.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
19.9.2
19 : Phosphates
9 : Phosphates of rare earths and Sc
19 : Phosphates
9 : Phosphates of rare earths and Sc
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cuh-Y | 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 Churchite-(Y)
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy, Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Lustre pearly on cleavage.
Colour:
Colorless, white, gray, yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {101}, perfect.
On {101}, perfect.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.14 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.2 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Churchite-(Y)
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.605 - 1.623 nβ = 1.608 - 1.631 nγ = 1.645 - 1.657
2V:
Measured: 10° , Calculated: 60°
Birefringence:
0.039
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
weak
Optical Extinction:
c^[001] ~ 30°-35°
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Churchite-(Y)
Mindat Formula:
Y(PO4) · 2H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Churchite-(Y)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.578 Å, b = 15.006 Å, c = 6.275 Å
β = 117.83°
β = 117.83°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.372 : 1 : 0.418
Unit Cell V:
464.49 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals acicular to lath-shaped (gypsum-like), elongated [001] and flattened {010}; form crusts and spherulites with a radial-fibrous structure.
Comment:
Space group I2/a. Ivashkevich et al. (2013) give C2/c (different setting) and a = 6.15326(3), b = 14.99687(8), c = 5.57848(3) Å, β = 115.4319(4)°, V = 464.896(4) Å3.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0010295 | Churchite-(Y) | Kohlmann M, Sowa H, Reithmayer K, Schulz H, Kruger R R, Abriel W (1994) Structure of a Y(1-x)(Gd,Dy,Er)xPO4*2H2O microcrystal using synchrotron radiation Acta Crystallographica C50 1651-1652 |  | 1994 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.51 Å | (79) |
| 4.69 Å | (24) |
| 4.19 Å | (100) |
| 3.74 Å | (60) |
| 3.01 Å | (71) |
| 2.83 Å | (45) |
| 2.61 Å | (31) |
| 2.17 Å | (18) |
| 1.8606 Å | (19) |
| 1.7773 Å | (17) |
Comments:
RRUFF, see also ICDD 8-167
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47) | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 48 : Soil leaching zone minerals | <0.6 |
Geological Setting:
Limonite deposit.
Type Occurrence of Churchite-(Y)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
British Museum of Natural History
Synonyms of Churchite-(Y)
Other Language Names for Churchite-(Y)
Relationship of Churchite-(Y) to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
| Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
| Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O | Mon. m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O |
| 6 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 6 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 5 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 4 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Unnamed (Fe-Al Phosphate) | Fe, Al, P, O, H |
| 4 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
| 4 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O |
| 3 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O |
| 3 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Tsepinite-Na | Na2(Ti,Nb)2(Si4O12)(OH,O)2 · 3H2O |
| 3 photos of Churchite-(Y) associated with Plumbomicrolite (of Hogarth 1977) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CJ. | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Caesiumpharmacosiderite | CsFe4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Jeankempite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Airdite | Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Dobšináite | Ca2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.05 | Stercorite | (NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Mundrabillaite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Swaknoite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nabaphite | NaBaPO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nastrophite | Na(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.20 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Rhabdophane-(Y) | YPO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.27 | Churchite-(Dy) | (Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.30 | Ferrarisite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Machatschkiite | (Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Fulbrightite | Ca(VO)2(AsO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Rauenthalite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Brockite | (Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Grayite | (Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(La) | La(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Tristramite | (Ca,U,Fe)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Smirnovskite | (Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Štěpite | U(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.47 | Vysokýite | U4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Ardealite | Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.55 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.60 | Dorfmanite | Na2(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Sincosite | Ca(VO)2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Bariosincosite | Ba(VO)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.70 | Catalanoite | Na2(PO3OH) · 8H2O |
| 8.CJ.75 | Guérinite | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
| 8.CJ.85 | Ningyoite | (U,Ca,Ce)2(PO4)2 · 1-2H2O |
Fluorescence of Churchite-(Y)
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Thermoluminescent upon gentle heating.
Notes:
Soluble in hot acids, insoluble in alkalies.
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 Churchite-(Y)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1047.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
References for Churchite-(Y)
Reference List:
Milton, Charles, Murata, K. J., Knechtel, and M. M. (1944) Weinschenkite, yttrium phosphate dihydrate, from Virginia. American Mineralogist, 29 (3-4) 92-107
Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Ect. John Wiley and Sons, New York.pp.771-773 - as Weinschenkite, as Churchite
Milton, Daniel J., Bastron, Harry (1971) Churchite and Florencite-(Nd) from Sausalito, California. The Mineralogical Record, 2 (4) 166-168
Lottermoser, Bernd G. (1987) Churchite from the Mt Weld carbonatite laterite, Western Australia. Mineralogical Magazine, 51 (361) 468-469 doi:10.1180/minmag.1987.051.361.16
Kohlmann, M., Sowa, H., Reithmayer, K., Schulz, H., Krüger, R. R., Abriel, W. (1994) Structure of a Y1−x(Gd,Dy,Er)xPO4.2H2O microcrystal using synchrotron radiation. Acta Crystallographica Section C Crystal Structure Communications, 50 (11) 1651-1652 doi:10.1107/s0108270194000806
Frost, Ray L., Sejkora, Jiří, Keeffe, Eloise C., Plášil, Jakub, Čejka, Jiří, Bahfenne, Silmarilly (2009) Raman spectroscopic study of the phosphate mineral churchite-(Y) YPO4·2H2O. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 41 (2) 202-206 doi:10.1002/jrs.2347
Localities for Churchite-(Y)
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.
Argentina | |
| Dr. Nestor Hillar P. collection |
Australia | |
| Birch BH Book |
| Birch (1999) |
| Pring et al. (2000) |
| Dunkan +5 other references |
| Murray Thompson +1 other reference |
| Le Gleuher M. (2008) |
Austria | |
| Bernhard et al. (1999) |
| Bernhard et al. (2007) |
Bolivia | |
| Schultz et al. (2004) |
| Schultz et al. (2004) | |
Brazil | |
| [Mineralogical Record - Vol 25 No.3] |
| Moroni et al. (2001) |
China | |
| Wang et al. (2010) |
| Zhao et al. (2022) |
| Rengui Wu and Dagan Yu (2000) |
Czech Republic | |
| Tvrdý et al. (2021) |
| Plášil J. et al. (Giant) +2 other references |
| Lapis 2002 (7/8) |
| Scharm +7 other references |
| Sejkora +1 other reference |
| Škoda | |
| Pauliš et al. (2011) |
| Hybler et al. (2016) |
France | |
| Queneau (n.d.) |
| Cuchet et al. (2000) |
| Lièvre et al. (2002) |
| Ref: Boisson J.M. |
Germany | |
| Kolitsch & Brandstätter (2010) |
| Weiß (1990) |
| Lapis 1983 (3) +3 other references |
| |
| Andreas Gerstenberg collection | |
| DILL et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
| Dill (2009) +1 other reference |
| Belendorff (2021) |
| Collected by Klaus Petitjean. |
| Weiß (1990) | |
| Collection of Steffen Michalski | |
| Wittern (2001) |
| |
| Belendorff (2009) |
| 86. +1 other reference |
| Witzke et al. (1997) |
| Witzke et al. (2013) |
| Gröbner et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
Greece | |
| Laskou et al. (2007) |
Italy | |
| Balestra et al. (2011) |
| Olmi F. |
| Orlandi et al. (2013) +1 other reference |
Japan | |
| Yamada (2004) |
Kazakhstan | |
| СВЕТЛАНА Н. НЕНАШЕВА (2021) |
| Levin et al. (2021) |
Madagascar | |
| Behier (1960) |
Malawi | |
| Färber (n.d.) |
Mozambique | |
| Wilson et al. (2000) |
| Wilson et al. (2000) |
Namibia | |
| Hinder (2015) |
Norway | |
| Bjørlykke (1966) +1 other reference |
Portugal | |
| Vignola et al. (2018) |
Romania | |
| European Journal of Mineralogy +5 other references |
Russia | |
| Filina et al. (2019) |
| Filina et al. (2019) | |
| Igor Savin's data |
| Sharygin +12 other references |
| Voloshin A.V. et al. (1986) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data (2011) |
| Shcheka et al. (2006) |
Slovenia | |
| A. Rečnik +1 other reference |
South Africa | |
| Atanasova et al. (2016) |
| USGS Open File report 02-189 |
| Smits (1984) | |
Spain | |
| Menor et al. (2010) |
| Schnorrer et al. (2005) |
| Dill et al. (2023) |
UK | |
| Mineralogical Magazine 1982 46 : 402-403 +1 other reference |
| Kingsbury (1956) +1 other reference |
| Manchester University Museum +1 other reference |
USA | |
| Min.Rec.:20 (5) +1 other reference |
| Cook et al. (1982) | |
| Rocks & Min 70:5 pp 320-333 | |
| Rocks & Min 70:5 pp 320-333 |
| www.koeln.netsurf.de (2001) |
| Milton et al. (1971) |
| Januzzi et al. (1976) |
| Jason Smith & M.E. Ciriotti (2005) |
| Silver Coin Mine. Compact Disc. Paul ... |
| Leonard S.Wiener and Sigrid Ballew | |
| Genth |
| Self-collected by David Aldridge |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Dietrich (1990) |
| Rocks & Minerals: 64: 44-45. +1 other reference |
| www.minresco.com |
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Girard, Girard District, Burke County, Georgia, USA