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Airdite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O
Colour:
pale green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.116 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Airdite is named for Bill Aird, prominent Australian
mineral collector and South Australian Museum volunteer.
Known synthetic analogue. Unique combination of elements (at the approval time).

Chemically the Sr analogue of bariosincosite (tetragonal).


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
55106
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:55106:9

Similar NamesHide

AraditeA valid IMA mineral speciesBaCa6[(SiO4)(VO4)](VO4)2F
ArdaiteA valid IMA mineral speciesPb19Sb13S35Cl7
BairditeA valid IMA mineral speciesPb2Cu42+Te26+O10(OH)2(SO4) · H2O
GirditeA discredited species nameH2Pb3(Te4+O3)(Te6+O6)

Classification of AirditeHide

06456030017683497231659.jpg
Sincosite-type sheet


The sincosite-type sheet found in airdite.

IMA Classification of AirditeHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2·4H2O
Approval year:
2020
8.CJ.

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations

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

Physical Properties of AirditeHide

Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale green
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}
Density:
3.116 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AirditeHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.690(2) nβ = 1.696(2) nγ = 1.696(2)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.006
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:
Very High (positive)
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.

No measured or calculated 2V is on file for this mineral, so the value used here (-0°) is estimated from its recorded refractive indices and optic sign, not from a direct 2V measurement.

Chemistry of AirditeHide

Mindat Formula:
Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O46.327 %
V21.072 %
Sr18.122 %
P12.812 %
H1.668 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
V
Sr
P
H

Crystallography of AirditeHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
m - Domatic
Space Group:
Bb
Setting:
Cc
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.006(2) Å, b = 8.991(2) Å, c = 12.796(3) Å
β = 100.25(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.002 : 1 : 1.423
Unit Cell V:
1,019.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Type Occurrence of AirditeHide

General Appearance of Type Material:
thin platy crystals up to 80 μm in length and crystal clusters up to 0.5 mm across
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia, registration number G34890
Geological Setting of Type Material:
crystallized from low-temperature hydrothermal solutions in small cavities in quartz veins.

Synonyms of AirditeHide

Other Language Names for AirditeHide

Dutch:Airdiet
French:Airdite
German:Airdit
Norwegian:Airditt

Relationship of Airdite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of Sincosite Group:
BariosincositeBa(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2OTet.
FulbrightiteCa(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
SincositeCa(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P42/nnm

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.CJ.DobšináiteCa2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2OMon. 2/m : P21/c
8.CJ.SainfelditeCa5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CJ.CaesiumpharmacosideriteCsFe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2OIso. 43m : P43m
8.CJ.JeankempiteCa5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CJ.05Stercorite(NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CJ.10Swaknoite(NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2OOrth.
8.CJ.10Mundrabillaite(NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2OMon. m : Pm
8.CJ.15NabaphiteNaBaPO4 · 9H2OIso. 23 : P213
8.CJ.15NastrophiteNa(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2OIso. 23 : P213
8.CJ.20HaidingeriteCaHAsO4 · H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn
8.CJ.25Rhabdophane-(Y)YPO4 · H2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.25VladimiriteCa4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2OMon. 2/m : P21/c
8.CJ.27'Churchite-(Dy)'(Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO4 · 2H2OMon.
8.CJ.30FerrarisiteCa5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CJ.35FulbrightiteCa(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CJ.35Machatschkiite(Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2OTrig. 3m : R3c
8.CJ.40RauenthaliteCa3(AsO4)2 · 10H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CJ.40PhaunouxiteCa3(AsO4)2 · 11H2OTric.
8.CJ.45Brockite(Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.45Smirnovskite(Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Ce)Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2OTrig. 32 : P3121
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(La)La(PO4) · H2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.45Rhabdophane-(Nd)Nd(PO4) · H2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.45Tristramite(Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.45Grayite(Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2OHex. 622 : P6222
8.CJ.45ŠtěpiteU(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O Tet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : I41/acd
8.CJ.47VysokýiteU4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CJ.50Churchite-(Y)Y(PO4) · 2H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CJ.50BrushiteCa(PO3OH) · 2H2OMon. m : Bb
8.CJ.50ArdealiteCa2(PO3OH)(SO4) · 4H2OMon. m : Bb
8.CJ.50PharmacoliteCa(HAsO4) · 2H2OMon. m
8.CJ.50'Churchite-(Nd)'Nd(PO4) · 2H2OMon.
8.CJ.55McneariteNaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2OTric.
8.CJ.60DorfmaniteNa2(PO3OH) · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
8.CJ.65SincositeCa(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2OTet. 4/mmm(4/m2/m2/m) : P42/nnm
8.CJ.65BariosincositeBa(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2OTet.
8.CJ.70CatalanoiteNa2(PO3OH) · 8H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Ibca
8.CJ.75GuériniteCa6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/c
8.CJ.85Ningyoite(U,Ca,Ce)2(PO4)2 · 1-2H2OOrth.

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 AirditeHide

References for AirditeHide

Localities for AirditeHide

Showing 1 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.
Australia (TL)
 
  • South Australia
    • District Council of Mount Remarkable
      • Wilmington
Miyawaki et al. (2020) +1 other reference
 
and/or  
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