Brianite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Brian Harold Mason
Formula:
Na2CaMg(PO4)2
Colour:
Colorless
Hardness:
4 - 5
Specific Gravity:
3.00 - 3.10
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
After Dr. Brian Harold Mason (18 April 1917, Port Chalmers, New Zealand – 3 December 2009, Washington D.C., USA), a New Zealandic-American geochemist, mineralogist, and meteoriticist. He graduated from Canterbury University, New Zealand. He served as a Curator of Mineralogy at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and as Curator of Meteorites at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. He was a proponent for the systematic collection of meteorites and studied moon rocks. He was a recipient of the Leonard Medal and the Roebling Medal. The mineral stenhuggarite is also named for him.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
This page provides mineralogical data about Brianite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
771
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:771:7
Similar Names
| Barronite | A valid IMA mineral species | (◻0.5Ba0.5)(UO2)2Si5O12(OH) · 2H2O |
| Beraunite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Fe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| Birunite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionable | Ca18(SiO3)8.5(CO3)8.5SO4 · 15H2O(?) |
| Bornite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Cu5FeS4 |
| Bornite (of Pinkerton) | A rock subtype | |
| Braunit-II | A synonym of 'Braunite-II' | |
| Braunite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Mn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8 |
| Browneite | A valid IMA mineral species | MnS |
IMA Classification of Brianite
Classification of Brianite
8.AC.30
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Dana 7th ed.:
38.1.7.1
38.1.7.1
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
19.4.9
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bne | 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 Brianite
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.00 - 3.10 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.13 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Brianite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.598 nβ = 1.605 nγ = 1.608
2V:
Measured: 63° to 65°, Calculated: 66°
Birefringence:
0.010
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 (positive)
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:
r < v weak
Optical Extinction:
extinction ^ lamellae = 2-3°
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Brianite
Mindat Formula:
Na2CaMg(PO4)2
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Brianite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.36 Å, b = 5.23 Å, c = 9.13 Å
β = 91.2°
β = 91.2°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.554 : 1 : 1.746
Unit Cell V:
637.80 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
Am Min (1975) 60:717; ICDD 29-1192
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0011078 | Brianite | Alkemper J, Fuess H (1998) The crystal structures of NaMgPO4, Na2CaMg(PO4)2 and Na18Ca13Mg5(PO4)18: new examples for glaserite related structures Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 213 282-287 |  | 1998 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.73 Å | (90) |
| 3.34 Å | (70) |
| 3.16 Å | (60) |
| 2.72 Å | (80) |
| 2.68 Å | (90) |
| 2.63 Å | (10) |
| 2.23 Å | (70) |
| 1.875 Å | (90) |
Comments:
ICDD 29-1192, also 20-1091.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration | 4.566-4.550 |
| 5 : Primary asteroid phases | 4.566–4.560 |
| 6 : Secondary asteroid phases | 4.566-4.560 |
Type Occurrence of Brianite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Granular with lamellar structure.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 1506.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Meteorite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Brianite
Other Language Names for Brianite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.AC. | 'Crocobelonite-1M' | CaFe3+2O(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC. | Magnesioqingheiite | Na2Mg(MgAl)(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC. | Manganobadalovite | NaNaMn(MgFe3+)(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC. | Yakubovichite | CaNi2Fe3+(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC. | Changesite-(Y) | (Ca8Y)◻Fe2+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AC. | Babunaite-(Nd) | NdAsO4 |
| 8.AC. | Crocobelonite | CaFe3+2O(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC. | Wopmayite | Ca6Na3◻Mn(PO4)3(PO3OH)4 |
| 8.AC. | Beershevaite | CaFe3+3(PO4)3O |
| 8.AC. | Epiebnerite | (NH4)Zn(PO4) |
| 8.AC. | Ebnerite | (NH4)Zn(PO4) |
| 8.AC.X | Dyrnaesite-(La) | Na8Ce4+(La,REE)2(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC. | Edtollite | K2NaCu5Fe3+O2(AsO4)4 |
| 8.AC. | Angarfite | NaFe3+5(PO4)4(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.AC. | Kabalovite | Fe2+3Fe3+4(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC. | Nazarchukite | Ca2NiFe3+2(PO4)4 |
| 8.AC. | Calciohatertite | NaNaCa(CaFe3+)(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC. | Alumoedtollite | K2NaCu5AlO2(AsO4)4 |
| 8.AC.02 | Grigorievite | Cu3Fe3+2Al2(VO4)6 |
| 8.AC.02 | Koksharovite | CaMg2Fe3+4(VO4)6 |
| 8.AC.02 | Ziminaite | Fe3+ 6 (VO4)6 |
| 8.AC.05 | Hatertite | Na2(Ca,Na)(Fe3+,Cu)2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Erikapohlite | Cu3(Zn,Cu,Mg)4Ca2(AsO4)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.AC.05 | 'Unnamed (Na-Mg Arsenate Hydroxyarsenate)' | NaMg3(AsO4)(AsO3OH)2 |
| 8.AC.05 | 'Unnamed (Na-Zn-H Arsenate Hydroxyarsenate)' | Na(Na0.6Zn0.4)Zn2(H0.6AsO4)(AsO3OH)2 |
| 8.AC.05 | Calciojohillerite | NaCaMg3(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Magnesiohatertite | (Na,Ca)2Ca(Mg,Fe3+)2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 va | 'Alluaudite-Na[]' | ◻4Na4Mn2+4Fe3+8(PO4)12 |
| 8.AC.05 va | 'Alluaudite-Ca[]' | ◻4Ca4Mn2+4Fe3+8(PO4)12 |
| 8.AC.05 va | 'Ferroalluaudite-NaNa' | Na4Na4Fe2+4Fe3+8(PO4)12 |
| 8.AC.05 | 'Hagendorfite-NaNa' | NaNaFe2+(Mn2+,Mn3+)(PO4)3 (?) |
| 8.AC.05 | O'Danielite | Na(Zn,Mg)3(AsO4)(AsO3OH)2 |
| 8.AC.05 | Howardevansite | NaCuFe2(VO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Khrenovite | Na3Fe3+2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Zincobradaczekite | NaZn2Cu2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Paraberzeliite | NaCa2Mg2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Badalovite | Na2Mg2Fe(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Magnesiocanutite | NaMnMg2[AsO4]2[AsO2(OH)2] |
| 8.AC.05 | Manganohatertite | NaNaCa(MnFe3+)(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.05 | Camanchacaite | NaCaMg2[AsO4][AsO3(OH)]2 |
| 8.AC.07 | Zhanghuifenite | Na3Mn4Mg2Al(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC.07 | Ferrobobfergusonite | Na2Fe2+5Fe3+Al(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC.10 | Hagendorfite | NaCaMn2+Fe2+2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | 'Ferrohagendorfite' | NaCaFe2+Fe2+2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Johillerite | Na(Mg,Zn)3Cu(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Varulite | NaCaMn2+Mn2+2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Nickenichite | Na0.8Ca0.4Cu0.4(Mg,Fe)3(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Arseniopleite | NaCaMnMn2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Groatite | NaCaMn2(PO4)[PO3(OH)]2 |
| 8.AC.10 | Alluaudite | (Na,Ca)Mn2+(Fe3+,Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Bradaczekite | NaCu4(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Caryinite | (Na,Pb)(Ca,Na)CaMn2+2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Ferroalluaudite | (Na,Ca)Fe2+(Fe3+,Mn2+,Fe2+)2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.10 | Maghagendorfite | (Na,◻)MgMn2+(Fe2+,Fe3+)2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.15 | Ferrowyllieite | (Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.15 | Qingheiite | NaNaMn2+(MgAl)(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.15 | Rosemaryite | (Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Mg)Al(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.15 | Ferroqingheiite | NaNaFe2+(MgAl)(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.15 | Ferrorosemaryite | ◻NaFe2+Fe3+Al(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.15 | Bobfergusonite | Na2Mn5FeAl(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC.15 | Wyllieite | (Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.17 | Czochralskiite | Na4Ca3Mg(PO4)4 |
| 8.AC.18 | Manitobaite | Na16Mn2+ 25Al8(PO4)30 |
| 8.AC.20 | Marićite | NaFe2+(PO4) |
| 8.AC.25 | Schäferite | (NaCa2)Mg2(VO4)3 |
| 8.AC.25 | Berzeliite | (NaCa2)Mg2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.25 | Matyhite | Ca18(Ca,◻)2Fe2+2(PO4)14 |
| 8.AC.25 | Hedegaardite | (Ca,Na)9(Ca,Na)Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH) |
| 8.AC.25 | Manganberzeliite | (NaCa2)Mn2+2(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.25 | Palenzonaite | (NaCa2)Mn2+2(VO4)3 |
| 8.AC.35 | Vitusite-(Ce) | Na3(Ce,La,Nd)(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC.40 | Bario-olgite | (Ba,Sr)(Na,Sr,REE)2Na(PO4)2 · |
| 8.AC.40 | Olgite | (Sr,Ba)(Na,Sr,REE)2Na(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC.45 | Magnesiochangesite-(Ce) | (Ca8Ce)◻Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AC.45 | Tuite | Ca3(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC.45 | Ferromerrillite | Ca9NaFe2+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AC.45 | Strontiowhitlockite | Sr9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH) |
| 8.AC.45 | Magnesiochangesite-(Y) | (Ca8Y)◻ Mg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AC.45 | Changesite-(Ce) | (Ca8Ce)◻Fe2+(PO4)7 |
| 8.AC.45 | Merrillite | Ca9NaMg(PO4)7 |
| 8.AC.45 | Whitlockite | Ca9Mg(PO4)6(PO3OH) |
| 8.AC.47 | Iwateite | Na2BaMn(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC.47 | Ozerovaite | Na2KAl3(AsO4)4 |
| 8.AC.47 | Yurmarinite | Na7(Fe3+,Mg,Cu)4(AsO4)6 |
| 8.AC.47 | Pansnerite | K3Na3(Fe3+,Al)6(AsO4)8 |
| 8.AC.47 | Anatolyite | Na6(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe3+)3Al(AsO4)6 |
| 8.AC.50 | Fillowite | Na3CaMn2+11(PO4)9 |
| 8.AC.50 | Galileiite | Na3Fe2+Fe2+11(PO4)9 |
| 8.AC.50 | Johnsomervilleite | Na3CaFe11(PO4)9 |
| 8.AC.50 | Xenophyllite | Na4Fe2+7(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC.50 | Udinaite | NaMg4(VO4)3 |
| 8.AC.50 | Arsenudinaite | NaMg4(AsO4)3 |
| 8.AC.50 | Chladniite | Na3CaMg11(PO4)9 |
| 8.AC.52 | Lasnierite | (Ca,Sr)(Mg,Fe2+)2Al(P[O,F]4)3 |
| 8.AC.55 | Pharmazincite | KZnAsO4 |
| 8.AC.57 | Zubkovaite | Ca3Cu3(AsO4)4 |
| 8.AC.60 | Kosnarite | KZr2(PO4)3 |
| 8.AC.65 | Panethite | (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Fe2+)2(PO4)2 |
| 8.AC.70 | Stanfieldite | Ca4Mg5(PO4)6 |
| 8.AC.75 | Ronneburgite | K2MnV4O12 |
| 8.AC.80 | Tillmannsite | Ag3Hg[(V,As)O4] |
| 8.AC.85 | Filatovite | K(Al,Zn)2(As,Si)2O8 |
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 Brianite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-771.html
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References for Brianite
Reference List:
Fuchs, Louis H., Olsen, E., Henderson, E.P. (1967) On the occurrence of brianite and panethite, two new phosphate minerals from the Dayton meteorite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 31 (10) 1711-1719 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(67)90118-4
Moore, Paul Brian (1975) Brianite, Na2CaMg[PO4]2: A phosphate analog of merwinite, Ca2CaMg[SiO4]2. American Mineralogist, 60 (7-8) 717-718
Localities for Brianite
Showing 5 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.
Cape Verde | |
| Maffeis et al. (2026) |
| Maffeis et al. (2026) | |
Poland | |
| Karwowski et al. (2008) +1 other reference |
Russia | |
| Litasov et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
USA (TL) | |
| Am Min 60:717-718 +1 other reference |
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