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Formula: (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2.H2O
Hydrated acid phosphate, orthorhombic paramorph of monoclinic
mundrabillaite
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 1.91 measured, 1.89 calculated
Hardness: 1½ to 2
Colour: White
Solubility: Soluble in water
Environments
Although swaknoite was approved in 1991, to date (October 2022) it has been reported only from the type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, the Arnhem Cave, Windhoek Rural, Khomas Region, Namibia, swaknoite occurs as a white coating
on the dolomite walls of the cave, associated with
mundrabillaite, forming shiny prisms up to 5 mm long, with
dittmarite forming a microcrystalline chalky material, and with
arcanite forming plates, up to 1 cm across, displaying a micacious texture.
Swaknoite derives from the decay of bat guano which produces NH3 and H3PO4 that
react with the cave walls containing Ca
(Bulletin of the South African Speleological Association 32.72-74).
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