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Fernandinite

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Big Photo

Sunday Mine, Slick Rock District, San Miguel Co., Colorado, USA
© Brent Thorne




Formula:
(Ca,K)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 10H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Dull green; light green, ...
Hardness:2 - 3
Member of:Straczekite Group
Name:After Eulagio E. Fernandini, who was formerly an owner of the Minasragra deposit.


Similar to corvusite.
Somewhat soluble in cold water, giving a yellow solution.

Classification of Fernandinite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/G.11-35
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.HE.20

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
E : Phyllovanadates
Dana 8th edition ID:47.3.2.3

47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
Hey's CIM Ref.:21.2.7

21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
2 : Vanadates of Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba
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Type Occurrence of Fernandinite

Type Locality:Ragra Mine (Minasragra), Huayllay District, Pasco Province, Pasco Department, Peru
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: #101718. U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #87661, R5706.
Year of Discovery:1994
Geological Setting of type material:A rich vanadium deposit in fissures that cut red shales
Associated Minerals at type locality:
QuartzHewettite

Physical Properties of Fernandinite

Lustre:Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Dull green; light green, dark olive-green, brownish green in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Density (measured):2.78 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.07 g/cm3

Crystallography of Fernandinite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/m {B1 1 2/m} {C2/m} {C1 2/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.68Å, b = 3.6537Å, c = 11.023Å
β = 105°
Ratio:a:b:c = 3.197 : 1 : 3.017
Unit Cell Volume:V 454.38 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:1
Morphology:Crystals rare, platy and rectangular. Fibrous, cryptocrystalline, porous masses.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
10.68 (100)
3.545 (4)
3.483 (26)
2.826 (7)
2.549 (4)
1.949 (6)
1.836 (8)
Comments:Very similar to the data for corvusite.

Optical Data of Fernandinite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: n = 2.05
Birefringence:Strong
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.000

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Comments:2V measured value not determined.

Chemical Properties of Fernandinite

Formula:
(Ca,K)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 10H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Ca, H, O, V
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Fe, H, K, O, V

Relationship of Fernandinite to other Species

Member of:Straczekite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Bariandite
Al
 
0.6
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 9H
 
2
O
Bokite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
1.3
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 7.4H
 
2
O
Corvusite
(Na,K,Ca,Mg)
 
2
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 6-10H
 
2
O
Straczekite
(Ca,K,Ba)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.HE.05Melanovanadite
Ca(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.HE.10Shcherbinaite
V
5+
2
O
 
5
4.HE.15Hewettite
CaV
 
6
O
 
16
 · 9H
 
2
O
4.HE.15Metahewettite
CaV
 
6
O
 
16
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Bariandite
Al
 
0.6
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 9H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Bokite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
1.3
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 7.4H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Corvusite
(Na,K,Ca,Mg)
 
2
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 6-10H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Straczekite
(Ca,K,Ba)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.HE.25Häggite
V
3+
 
V
4+
 
O
 
2
(OH)
 
3
4.HE.30Doloresite
V
4+
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
4
4.HE.35Duttonite
V
4+
 
O(OH)
 
2
4.HE.40Cavoite
CaV
4+
3
O
 
7
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
21.2.1Metarossite
Ca(V
 
2
O
 
6
) · 2H
 
2
O
21.2.2Rossite
Ca(V
 
2
O
 
6
) · 4H
 
2
O
21.2.3Metahewettite
CaV
 
6
O
 
16
 · 3H
 
2
O
21.2.4Hewettite
CaV
 
6
O
 
16
 · 9H
 
2
O
21.2.5Pintadoite
Ca
 
2
(V
 
2
O
 
7
) · 9H
 
2
O
21.2.6Hendersonite
(Ca,Sr)
 
1.3
V
 
6
O
 
16
 · 6H
 
2
O
21.2.8Pascoite
Ca
 
3
(V
 
10
O
 
28
) · 17H
 
2
O
21.2.9Sherwoodite
Ca
 
4.5
(AlV
4+
2
V
5+
12
O
 
40
) · 28H
 
2
O
21.2.10Melanovanadite
Ca(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
21.2.11Grantsite
(Na,Ca)V
 
6
O
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
21.2.12Hummerite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
(V
 
10
O
 
28
) · 16H
 
2
O
21.2.13Metadelrioite
CaSr(V
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
2
21.2.14Delrioite
CaSr(V
 
2
O
 
6
)(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
21.2.15Straczekite
(Ca,K,Ba)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 3H
 
2
O
21.2.16Gamagarite
Ba
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)(VO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)

Other Names for Fernandinite

Other Languages:
German:Fernandinit
Russian:Фернандинит
Spanish:Fernandinita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in acids to a green solution. Somewhat soluble in cold H2O, yielding a yellow solution.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Fernandinite

Reference List:

- +
Schaller (1915) Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 5: 7.

Dana, E.S. (1915) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York. App. 3, by W.E. Ford: 29 (Schaller in).

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 74.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 1062.

Evans, Jr., H.T., and Hughes, J.M. (1990): Crystal chemistry of the natural vanadium bronzes. American Mineralogist 75, 508-521.

Evans, H.T., Jr., J.E. Post, D.R. Ross, and J.A. Nelen (1994) The crystal structure and crystal chemistry of fernandinite and corvusite. Canadian Mineralogist: 32: 339-351.

American Mineralogist (1995): 80: 407.

Internet Links for Fernandinite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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  • Fernandinite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Fernandinite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Peru
     
    • Pasco Department
      • Pasco Province
        • Huayllay District
    		Schaller (1915) Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 5: 7; Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 1062.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Apache Co.
        • Navajo Indian Reservation
          • Monument Valley
            • Monument No. 2 channel
    		Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 220; Witkind, I.J. & R.E. Thaden (1963), Geology and uranium-vanadium deposits of the Monument Valley area, Apache and Navajo Cos., AZ: 115; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 79.
    • Colorado
      • Montrose Co.
        • Uravan District
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • San Miguel Co.
        • Slick Rock District
    		Min News (1987) 3:9 p 5-6
        • Uravan District
          • Carnation Mine group
    		Excalibur Mineral Co. sample and analysis
    • Utah
      • Emery Co.
        • San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell)
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
      • Grand Co.
        • Yellow Cat District (W. part of Thompsons District)
          • Cisco
    		Van King
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