Archerite
H2KPO4 [CNMNC approved formula]
Named to honor Dr. Michael Archer (1945- ), Curator of Mammals, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia, who discovered the first specimens.
| IMA status : | Approved Species 1975 (IMA1975-008) |
| CLASSIFICATION | |
| Dana (8th edition) : |
37.01.04.02 |
| (37) Anhydrous Acid Phosphates | |
| (37.01) with miscellaneous formulae | |
| (37.01.04) | |
| Nickel-Strunz (10th edition) : |
08.AD.15 |
| (08) Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates | |
| (08.A) Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O | |
| (08.AD) With only large cations | |
| Crystal system: | Tetragonal System |
| Point group (H-M): | 42m (or 4 2m) — scalenohedral |
| Unit cell: | a = 7.451 Å, c = 6.792 Å |
| Crystal Habit: | As crystals composed of pyramids and prisms, to 2 mm, and in crusts. |
| Color: | White to colorless |
| Diaphaneity: | Translucent |
| Hardness (Mohs): | 1 - 2 |
| Measured Density: | 2.23 g/cm3 |
| Streak: | White |
| Geologic Setting: | As a component of stalactites and crusts on the walls of caves containing bat guano deposits. |
| Mineral Association: | Biphosphammite, aphthitalite, halite, syngenite, stercorite, oxammite, weddellite, whitlockite, guanine, newberyite, calcite, mundrabillaite |
| Other Properties: | H2O Soluble. |
| Comments: | Soluble in H20. |
Buff-colored biphosphammite with white archerite crusts.Origin: Cockelbiddy Cave, Western Australia, Australia.
Photo: Jeff Weissman