Spheniscidite
The ammonium analogue of leucophosphite — a phosphate mineral formed on elephant-seal rookeries.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Spheniscidite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula (NH₄)Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₂(OH)·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/n). It is a member of the Leucophosphite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 3.08; Dull, earthy luster.
IMA symbol Snc, IMA status: approved, named in 1977.
Formed by interaction of phosphate solutions derived from guano with micaceous and chloritic minerals in soil under a penguin rookery.
It is found associated with Micas, chlorites.
The name refers to Sphenisciformes, the Latin order name for penguins.
Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet.
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