Learning Center What is a mineral?The most common minerals on earth Information for Educators Mindat Articles The Elements The Rock H. Currier Digital Library Geologic Time

Minerals by Properties Minerals by Chemistry Advanced Locality Search Random Mineral Random Locality Search by minID Localities Near Me Search Articles Search Glossary More Search Options

The Mindat Manual Add a New Photo Rate Photos Locality Edit Report Coordinate Completion Report Add Glossary Item

Mining Companies Statistics Users Mineral Museums Clubs & Organizations Mineral Shows & Events The Mindat Directory Device Settings The Mineral Quiz

Photo Search Photo Galleries Search by Color New Photos Today New Photos Yesterday Members' Photo Galleries Past Photo of the Day Gallery Photography

Alvanite

A valid IMA mineral species

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

Photos of Alvanite (8)

Alvanite Gallery Search Photos of Alvanite

Edit Add Synonym Edit CIF structures Clear Cache

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Alvanite

Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

Hide all sections | Show all sections

About AlvaniteHide

Formula:

ZnAl₄(V⁵⁺O₃)₂(OH)₁₂ · 2H₂O

Colour:

Pale bluish green to bluish black.

Lustre:

Vitreous, Pearly

Hardness:

3 - 3½

Specific Gravity:

2.49

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Name:

Named in allusion to its composition, containing ALuminium and VANadium.

Co-Type Localities:

ⓘ Balasauskandyk V Deposit, Shieli District, Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan
ⓘ Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

The zinc analogue of Ankinovichite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

165

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:165:2

GUID
(UUID V4):

f94bac86-04b8-4ecd-ab2b-9b62c08e5f83

IMA Classification of AlvaniteHide

IMA status:

Approved

IMA Formula:

Zn²⁺Al₄(V⁵⁺O₃)₂(OH)₁₂ · 2H₂O

First published:

1959

Classification of AlvaniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2024):

8.FE.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
E : Ino-[4]-vanadates

Dana 8th ed.:

42.13.13.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
13 : Miscellaneous

Hey's CIM Ref.:

21.3.2

21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
3 : Vanadates of Al, rare earths, Pb, V or Bi

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Alv	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AlvaniteHide

Lustre:

Vitreous, Pearly

Transparency:

Translucent

Comment:

Pearly on cleavages.

Colour:

Pale bluish green to bluish black.

Streak:

White

Hardness:

3 - 3½ on Mohs scale

Cleavage:

Perfect
On {010}.

Fracture:

Micaceous

Density:

2.49 g/cm³ (Measured) 2.492 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of AlvaniteHide

Type:

Biaxial (-)

RI values:

n_α = 1.658 n_γ = 1.714

2V:

Measured: 80° to 85°

Max Birefringence:

δ = 0.056

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Dispersion:

r < v, strong

Chemistry of AlvaniteHide

Mindat Formula:

ZnAl₄(V⁵⁺O₃)₂(OH)₁₂ · 2H₂O

Elements listed:

Al, H, O, V, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AlvaniteHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

P2₁/m

Cell Parameters:

a = 17.808 Å, b = 5.132 Å, c = 8.881 Å
β = 92.11°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 3.47 : 1 : 1.731

Unit Cell V:

811.09 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

In hexagonal platelets, micalike, with forms {001}, {010}, {100}, and {101}.

Twinning:

Polysynthetic, parallel to {010}.

Crystal StructureHide

Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c

Rotation
Stop | Start

Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow

Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Link	Year	Locality	Pressure (GPa)	Temp (K)
0014847	Alvanite	Pertlik F, Dunn P J (1990) Crystal structure of alvanite, (Zn,Ni)Al4(VO3)2(OH)122H2O, the first example of an unbranched zweier-single chain vanadate in nature* Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1990 385-392		1990		0	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Alvanite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Pertlik F'
'Dunn P J'
_journal_name_full 'Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte'
_journal_volume 1990 
_journal_year 1990
_journal_page_first 385
_journal_page_last 392
_publ_section_title
;
 Crystal structure of alvanite, (Zn,Ni)Al4(VO3)2(OH)12*2H2O, the
 first example of an unbranched zweier-single chain vanadate in nature
;
_database_code_amcsd 0014847
_chemical_formula_sum 'Zn Al4 V2 O20 H16'
_cell_length_a 17.808
_cell_length_b 5.132
_cell_length_c 8.881
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 92.11
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 811.090
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      2.503
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'P 1 21/n 1'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '-x,-y,-z'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
_atom_site_U_iso_or_equiv
Zn   0.00000   0.50000   0.50000 ?
All   0.99820   0.99860   0.32630 ?
Al2   0.00190   0.50090   0.83980 ?
V   0.24280   0.11590   0.13630 ?
O1   0.29130   0.84060   0.22640 ?
O2   0.17030   0.00810   0.03400 ?
O3   0.29970   0.26340   0.02640 ?
O-hl   0.05740   0.31780   0.68240 ?
O-h2   0.44730   0.36020   0.99790 ?
O-h3   0.94630   0.68260   0.67750 ?
O-h4   0.05760   0.38920   0.00560 ?
O-h5   0.05760   0.80460   0.81200 ?
O-h6   0.94710   0.19830   0.80010 ?
O-h7   0.20920   0.21990   0.69950 ?
Hl   0.10500   0.31100   0.68900   0.02000
H2   0.40800   0.36200   0.99700   0.02000
H3   0.10100   0.31100   0.32800   0.02000
H4   0.08700   0.39100   0.00500   0.02000
H5   0.08800   0.87500   0.85300   0.02000
H6   0.08000   0.84100   0.16200   0.02000
Hwl   0.77200   0.81900   0.23100   0.02000
Hw2   0.78600   0.78600   0.36700   0.02000
loop_
_atom_site_aniso_label
_atom_site_aniso_U_11
_atom_site_aniso_U_22
_atom_site_aniso_U_33
_atom_site_aniso_U_12
_atom_site_aniso_U_13
_atom_site_aniso_U_23
Zn 0.03020 0.01070 0.01530 -0.00180 0.00130 -0.00130
All 0.01720 0.00630 0.01200 -0.00050 0.00100 -0.00210
Al2 0.01930 0.00650 0.01300 0.00370 0.00160 -0.00140
V 0.01830 0.01410 0.02420 -0.00060 0.00020 0.00090
O1 0.02240 0.01900 0.02660 -0.00060 -0.00150 0.00400
O2 0.01880 0.02190 0.02650 0.00320 -0.00060 -0.00410
O3 0.02450 0.03960 0.03440 0.00040 0.00560 0.00360
O-hl 0.01000 0.00670 0.01710 -0.00530 -0.00060 0.00120
O-h2 0.00920 0.00460 0.02140 0.00660 -0.00100 0.00100
O-h3 0.01560 0.00930 0.00880 0.00710 0.00560 0.00030
O-h4 0.01840 0.01760 0.01360 -0.00170 0.00160 0.00180
O-h5 0.02120 0.00410 0.01380 -0.00540 -0.00760 0.00470
O-h6 0.02600 0.01290 0.01370 -0.00120 0.01280 0.00180
O-h7 0.06060 0.06550 0.04430 0.00600 -0.00550 0.00680

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
4.46 Å	(100)
8.91 Å	(90)
7.85 Å	(80)
5.02 Å	(50)
1.973 Å	(40)
3.287 Å	(35)
2.957 Å	(35)

Comments:

Kazakhstan. Data from Dunn et al. (1990).

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event	<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates]

Type Occurrence of AlvaniteHide

Co-Type Localities:

ⓘ Balasauskandyk V Deposit, Shieli District, Kyzylorda Region, Kazakhstan
ⓘ Kurumsak V Deposit, Aksumbe, Turkistan Region, Kazakhstan

General Appearance of Type Material:

Micalike platelets.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Mining Institute, St. Petersburg, 1249/2; A.E. Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, 65614.

Geological Setting of Type Material:

In the oxidation zone of a vanadiferous clay-anthraxolite horizon.

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Mica Group

Other Language Names for AlvaniteHide

German:Alvanit

Russian:Альванит

Spanish:Alvanita

Relationship of Alvanite to other SpeciesHide

Structurally related to group(s):

Chalcoalumite Group

A group of metal(II)-Al-sulphates, with additional anions in some species.

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

8.FE.05

Ankinovichite

(Ni,Zn)Al₄(V⁵⁺O₃)₂(OH)₁₂ · 2.5H₂O

Mon. 2/m

Other InformationHide

Thermal Behaviour:

Heated in the closed tube, it yields much acid water and turns brown.

Notes:

Soluble in HCl and HNO3 only when heated.

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for AlvaniteHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-165.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Search Engines:

Look for Alvanite on Google

Look for Alvanite images on Google

Look for Alvanite on Bing

Look for Alvanite images on Bing

Look for Alvanite on DuckDuckGo

Look for Alvanite images on DuckDuckGo

Look for Alvanite in the Rock H. Currier Digital Library

External Links:

Look for Alvanite on Webmineral

Look for Alvanite on Wikipedia

Look for Alvanite on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

Mineral Dealers:

Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.

Wilensky Exquisite Minerals

The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals

Buy from McDougall Minerals

Buy rare minerals from Excalibur Minerals

Blue Gems Australian & International

High-end worldwide specimens & outstanding customer service

Buy from David K Joyce minerals

References for AlvaniteHide

Reference List:

Ankinovich, E.A. (1959) New vanadium minerals - satpaevite and al'vanite [alvanite]. Zapiski Vserossiyskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva, 88. 157-164

Fleischer, M. (1959) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 44: 1325-1326. [abstract]

Pertlik, F., Dunn, P.J. (1990) Crystal structure of alvanite, (Zn,Ni)Al4(VO3)2(OH)12·2H2O, the first example of an unbranched zweier-single chain vanadate in nature. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 1990: 385-392.

Dunn, P.J., Roberts, A.C., Pertlik, F. (1990) Alvanite from Kazakhstan, U.S.S.R.: new crystallographic and chemical data. Mineralogical Magazine: 54: 609-611.

Jambor, L., 207, Edward S. Grew (1992) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 77 (1-2) 207-213

Anthony, J. W. et al. (1997) Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. 3, 12.

Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2019) CNMNC Newsletter No 50, New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2019. Mineralogical Magazine, 83 (4) 615-620 doi:10.1180/mgm.2019.46

(2023) Alvanite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Localities for AlvaniteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Kazakhstan (TL)
Kyzylorda Region Shieli District ⓘ Balasauskandyk V Deposit (TL)	Ankinovich (1959) +2 other references
Turkistan Region Aksumbe ⓘ Kurumsak V Deposit (TL)	Ankinovich (1959) +2 other references
Ran River valley ⓘ Ran V Deposit	Amer.Mineral. (1961)
ⓘ Taldyk	Bernard et al. (2004)

Alvanite

About AlvaniteHide

Unique IdentifiersHide

IMA Classification of AlvaniteHide

Classification of AlvaniteHide

Mineral SymbolsHide

Physical Properties of AlvaniteHide

Optical Data of AlvaniteHide

Chemistry of AlvaniteHide

Crystallography of AlvaniteHide

Crystal StructureHide

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Geological EnvironmentHide

Type Occurrence of AlvaniteHide

Other Language Names for AlvaniteHide

Relationship of Alvanite to other SpeciesHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

Other InformationHide

Internet Links for AlvaniteHide

References for AlvaniteHide

Localities for AlvaniteHide

Locality ListHide

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide