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Melanovanadite

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Wilson Mesa District (Wheeler Desert District), Wilson Mesa, Grand Co., Utah, USA
© Brent Thorne

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Formula:
Ca(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Black; dark reddish ...
Hardness:2½
Name:From the Greek for "black," in allusion to its colour, and in allusion to its composition, containing VANADium.


A secondary mineral occurring in Colorado Plateau-type U-V deposits and in altered black shale in a very rich vanadium deposit (TL). Contains interlayer H2O which is easily displaced.

Classification of Melanovanadite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/G.10-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.HE.05

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:47.3.6.1

47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
Hey's CIM Ref.:21.2.10

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

Type Locality:Ragra Mine (Minasragra), Huayllay District, Pasco Province, Pasco Department, Peru
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: #90452. American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA: #19310. U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #138067, 160076.
Year of Discovery:1921
Geological Setting of type material:Altered black shale in a very rich vanadium deposit
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SherwooditePyritePatrónitePascoiteGypsum
Copper

Occurrences of Melanovanadite

Geological Setting:Colorado Plateau-type U-V deposits in Shinarump sandstone.

Physical Properties of Melanovanadite

Lustre:Sub-Metallic
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Opaque
Colour:Black; dark reddish brown in transmitted light
Streak:Dark reddish brown
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010}, perfect.
Density (measured):2.55 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.53 g/cm3

Crystallography of Melanovanadite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 6.36Å, b = 18.09Å, c = 6.276Å
α = 110.18°, β = 101.62°, γ = 82.86°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.352 : 1 : 0.347
Unit Cell Volume:V 662.67 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals prismatic, striated and elongated [001], with prominent but rounded prism zone and complexly terminated; radiating aggregates and rosettes; velvety.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Melanovanadite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.730 nβ = 1.960 nγ = 1.980
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.250

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:relatively strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Light reddish brown
Y ^ c 15° = Deep reddish brown
Z = b = Dark reddish brown
Comments:2V = medium.

Chemical Properties of Melanovanadite

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

Relationship of Melanovanadite to other Species

Common Associates:
Duttonite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
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.20Fernandinite
(Ca,K)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 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
21.2.7Fernandinite
(Ca,K)(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
8
O
 
20
 · 10H
 
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
21.2.11Grantsite
(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 Melanovanadite

Other Languages:
German:Melanovanadit
Russian:Меланованадит
Spanish:Melanovanadita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in acids.
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 Melanovanadite

Reference List:

- +
Lindgren (1921) Proceedings of the National Academy of Science: 7: 249.

Lindgen, W., Hamilton, and Palache (1922) American Journal of Science: 3: 195.

American Mineralogist (1922): 7: 163.

Larsen, E.S. and Berman, H. (1934) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, Second edition, USGS Bulletin 848: 206.

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.: 1059-1060.

Bayliss, P. and J.M. Hughes (1985) X-ray diffraction data for melanovanadite. American Mineralogist: 70: 644–645.

Konnert, J.A. and H.T. Evans, Jr. (1987) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of melanovanadite, a natural vanadium bronze. American Mineralogist: 72: 637-644.

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

Internet Links for Melanovanadite

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

    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.
    Gabon
     
    • Haut-Ogooué Province
      • Franceville
    		J. Geffroy, J.A. Sarcia, J. Chervet : "Les Minéraux Uranifères Français", 1960, Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires / Saclay - PUF.
    Peru
     
    • Pasco Department
      • Pasco Province
        • Huayllay District
    		Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (1921): 7(8): 249-251; 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: 1060.
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Apache Co.
        • Lukachukai Mts
    		Page, L. R.; Stocking, H. E.; Smith, H. B. (1956) Contributions to the geology of uranium and thorium by the United States Geological Survey and Atomic Energy Commission for the United Nations International Conference on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, Geneva, Switzerland, 1955. USGS Professional Paper 300 pp1243-267
    Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 78.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 292; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 78.
    Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 292; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 78.
    • Colorado
      • Garfield Co.
        • East Rifle Creek area
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
      • Montrose Co.
        • Uravan District
          • Bull Canyon
    		USGS Prof Paper 320
          • Paradox Valley
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckels, E. B.
    USGS Prof Paper 320
    Minerals of Colorado (1997) E.B. Eckels
    • Utah
      • Grand Co.
        • Polar Mesa District (Polar Mesa)
    		Collected by and in the collection of Brent Thorne.
        • Thompsons District (S. E. Thomsons)
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Wilson Mesa
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
      • San Juan Co.
        • La Sal District (Paradox Valley District)
          • La Sal Creek Canyon
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Paradox Valley
          • Paradox Valley District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
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