Birchite Mineral Data

General Birchite Information
Chemical Formula:	Cd2Cu2(PO4)2(SO4)•5H2O
Composition:	Molecular Weight = 741.06 gm
	Calcium 0.11 % Ca 0.15 % CaO
	Manganese 0.15 % Mn 0.19 % MnO
	Zinc 0.88 % Zn 1.10 % ZnO
	Cadmium 31.70 % Cd 36.22 % CdO
	Copper 16.64 % Cu 20.82 % CuO
	Phosphorus 8.65 % P 19.82 % P₂O₅
	Hydrogen 1.36 % H 12.16 % H₂O
	Sulfur 3.81 % S 9.51 % SO₃
	Oxygen 36.70 % O
	______ ______
	100.00 % 99.97 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:	Cu_1.94P_2.07S_0.88O₁₂•5(H₂O)Zn_0.1Cd_2.09Ca_0.02Mn²⁺_0.02
Environment:	Late-stage supergene mineral formed as part of a suite of secondary phosphate minerals under low-temperature conditions. New structure type.
IMA Status:	Approved IMA 2006 (Dana # Added)
Locality:	Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:	Named for William D. Birch, Senior Curator of Geosciences at Museum Victoria, Australia, in recognition of his contribution to Australian geological sciences.
Synonym:	IMA2006-048