Moraesite Mineral Data
General Moraesite Information
Chemical Formula:
Be2(PO4)(OH)•4(H2O)
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 202.06 gm
Beryllium 8.92 % Be 24.76 % BeO
Phosphorus 15.33 % P 35.12 % P2 O5
Hydrogen 4.49 % H 40.12 % H2 O
Oxygen 71.26 % O
______ ______
100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
Be2 (PO4 )(OH)•4(H2 O)
IMA Status:
Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1953
Locality:
Sapucaia pegmatite, Gelileia, Minas Gerias, Brazil. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
Named for Liciano Jacques de Moraes (1896-1968), Brazilian geologist and mineral collector.
Name Pronunciation:
Moraesite + Pronunciation
Synonym:
ICSD 36587
PDF 29-1257
Moraesite Image
Images:
Images:
Moraesite Crystallography
Axial Ratios:
a:b:c =0.6942:1:0.5808
Cell Dimensions:
a = 8.553, b = 12.319, c = 7.155, Z = 4; beta = 97.93° V = 746.67 Den(Calc)= 1.80
Crystal System:
Monoclinic Space Group: Cc,C 2/c
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 7(1), 3.278(0.9), 4.24(0.6),
Physical Properties of Moraesite
Cleavage:
{010} Perfect
Color:
White.
Density:
1.805
Diaphaneity:
Translucent
Habit:
Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces.
Habit:
Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.
Habit:
Spherical - Spherical, rounded aggregates.
Streak:
white
Optical Properties of Moraesite
Gladstone-Dale:
CI meas = -0.018 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas /KC ) CI calc = -0.021 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc /KC )
KPDcalc = 0.2656,KPDmeas = 0.2648,KC = 0.2601 Ncalc = 1.47
Optical Data:
Biaxial (-), a=1.462, b=1.482, g=1.49, bire=0.0280, 2V(Calc)=62, 2V(Meas)=65.
Calculated Properties of Moraesite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=1.86 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Moraesite =1.81 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.08 Boson Index = 0.92
Photoelectric:
PEMoraesite = 0.93 barns/electronU=PEMoraesite x r Electron Density= 1.73 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Moraesite is Not Radioactive
Moraesite Classification
Dana Class:
42.06.01.01 (42) Hydrated Phosphates, etc., Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
(42.06) where (AB)2 (XO4) Zq � x(H2O)
(42.06.01) Moraesite Group
42.06.01.01 Moraesite Be2(PO4)(OH)•4(H2O) Cc,C 2/c Mono
42.06.01.02 Bearsite Be2(AsO4)(OH)•4(H2O) Cc or C 2/c Mono
Strunz Class:
08.DA.05 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
08.D - Phosphates, etc
08.DA -With small (and occasionally larger) cations
08.DA.05 Bearsite Be2(AsO4)(OH)•4(H2O) Cc or C 2/c Mono
08.DA.05 Moraesite Be2(PO4)(OH)•4(H2O) Cc,C 2/c Mono
Other Moraesite Information
References:
NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Moraesite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Moraesite Specimen Label here :
Moraesite
Be2(PO4)(OH)•4(H2O)
Dana No: 42.06.01.01 Strunz No: 08.DA.05
Locality:
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