Niahite

Note: Artificially grown "niahite" is sold on the market. It is in fact ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP), also called mono ammonium phosphate (MAP), formula NH4H2PO4. These fakes can be either colored bright green by doping with chromium or in any color by adding water soluble dyes like food coloring (Udo Behner info). The matrix may consist of quartz crystals or any other rock.

History

Activities related to discovery and approval of the group members

Structural context

Niahite
Crystal System orthorhombicCrystal Class orthorhombic pyramidalSpace Group Pmn21
a5.7142—5.7302 (5.7206)
b8.8191—8.8312 (8.8253)
c4.8762—4.9087 (4.8874)
alpha90
beta90
gamma90
volume245.91—248.062 (246.745)

Based on 6 measurements

Chemical context

Stoichiometric formulas

Niahite
mindat.org
  • March 1, 2025(NH4)Mn2+(PO4)·H2O
  • March 13, 2023(NH4)(Mn2+,Mg)(PO4)·H2O
IMA
  • March 13, 2023(NH4)Mn2+(PO4) · H2O
mineralogy.rocks
  • Aug. 30, 2022(NH4)(Mn2+,Mg)PO4·H2O

Elements recorded on EPMA

6
D
6
Mn
6
N
6
O
6
P

Physical properties

ColorColor entities, recognized using a custom trained NER model
  • pale orange
Color noteOriginal color note from the source
Pale orange
StreakStreak entities, recognized using a custom trained NER model
    Streak noteOriginal streak note from the source
    White
    Calculated density
    2.437