Spheniscidite Mineral Data

General Spheniscidite Information
Chemical Formula:	(NH4,K)(Fe+++,Al)2(PO4)2(OH)•2(H2O)
Composition:	Molecular Weight = 413.28 gm
	Potassium 3.78 % K 4.56 % K₂O
	Aluminum 5.22 % Al 9.87 % Al₂O₃
	Iron 22.97 % Fe 32.84 % Fe₂O₃
	Phosphorus 14.99 % P 34.35 % P₂O₅
	Hydrogen 0.59 % H - % Calc as (NH₄)₂O
	Hydrogen 1.63 % H 14.60 % H₂O
	Nitrogen 2.03 % N 3.78 % (NH₄)₂O
	Oxygen 48.78 % O
	______ ______
	100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:	(NH₄)_0.6K_0.4Fe³⁺_1.7Al_0.8(PO₄)₂(OH)_2.5�2.1(H₂O)
Environment:	Formed by interaction of phosphate solutions derived from quano with micacous and chloritic minerals in soil under a penguin rookery.
IMA Status:	Approved IMA 1986
Locality:	On Elephant Island, South Shetland Islands, about 800 km southeast of Cape Horn, British Antarctic Territory, Antartica. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:	Named for "Sphenisciformes," the Latin order name or penguins.
Name Pronunciation:	Spheniscidite + Pronunciation
Synonym:	ICSD 75229
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