Merrillite

Merrillite is a calcium phosphate mineral with the chemical formula Ca9NaMg(PO4)7. It is an anhydrous, sodic member of the whitlockite group.[3]

Merrillite
General
CategoryPhosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca9NaMg(PO4)7
Strunz classification8.AC.45
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classDitrigonal pyramidal (3m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupR3c
Unit cella = 10.362 Å,
c = 37.106 Å; Z = 6
Identification
ColorColorless to white
Crystal habitOccurs as anhedral grains
CleavagePoor - indistinct
TenacityBrittle
LusterVitreous
Specific gravity3.1 (measured)
Optical propertiesUniaxial (-)
Refractive indexnε=1.62, nω=1.623
Birefringence0.0030
References[1][2][3]

Discovery and naming

The mineral is named after George P. Merrill (1854–1929) of the Smithsonian Institution.[3] Merrill had described the mineral from four meteorites in 1915: the Alfianello, Dhurmsala, Pultusk, and Rich Mountain meteorites. The mineral was not recognized as distinct from whitlockite, however, by the IMA until 1975.[3]

Occurrence

Merrillite is a very important constituent of extraterrestrial rocks. It occurs in pallasites, lunar rocks, martian meteorites, and many other meteorite groups.[4]

References

  1. Mineralienatlas
  2. Merrillite data on Webmineral
  3. "Merrillite". Mindat. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
  4. Jolliff, Bradley L.; John M. Hughes; John J. Freeman & Ryan A. Zeigler (2006). "Crystal chemistry of lunar merrillite and comparison to other meteoritic and planetary suites of whitlockite and merrillite". American Mineralogist. 91 (10): 1583–1595. Bibcode:2006AmMin..91.1583J. doi:10.2138/am.2006.2185. S2CID 140580667.


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