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Melanovanadite

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

Show Melanovanadite Photos (3)
Formula:
Ca
 
2
V
 
4
V
 
6
O
 
25
·nH
 
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), Junín, Cerro de Pasco, Daniel Alcides Carrión 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):Translucent on thin edges, 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: Peaks:
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
 
2
V
 
4
V
 
6
O
 
25
·nH
 
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
 
2
O
 
5
4.HE.15Hewettite
Ca[V
 
2
O
 
6
|V
 
4
O
 
10
] · 9H
 
2
O
4.HE.15Metahewettite
Ca[V
 
2
O
 
6
|V
 
4
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Bariandite
Al
 
3
[(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
10
 · 45H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Bokite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
1.3
[(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 7.5H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Corvusite
V
 
7
O
 
20
·nH
 
2
O
4.HE.20Fernandinite
(Ca,K)[(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
4.HE.20Straczekite
(Ca,K,Ba)V
 
8
O
 
20
·3H
 
2
O
4.HE.25Häggite
V
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
3
4.HE.30Doloresite
3V
 
2
O
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
4.HE.35Duttonite
VO(OH)
 
2
4.HE.40Cavoite
CaV
 
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
Ca[V
 
2
O
 
6
|V
 
4
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
21.2.4Hewettite
Ca[V
 
2
O
 
6
|V
 
4
O
 
10
] · 9H
 
2
O
21.2.5Pintadoite
Ca
 
2
V
 
2
O
 
7
·9H
 
2
O
21.2.6Hendersonite
(Ca,Sr)
 
x
(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
12
O
 
32
·12H
 
2
O (x about 2.6)
21.2.7Fernandinite
(Ca,K)[(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
21.2.8Pascoite
Ca
 
3
[V
 
10
O
 
28
] · 17H
 
2
O
21.2.9Sherwoodite
Ca
 
9
Al
 
2
V
 
4
V
 
24
O
 
80
·56H
 
2
O
21.2.11Grantsite
(Na
 
2
,Ca)[V
 
2
O
 
6
|(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
] · 4H
 
2
O
21.2.12Hummerite
K
 
2
Mg
 
2
[V
 
10
O
 
28
] · 16H
 
2
O
21.2.13Metadelrioite
CaSr[(OH)
 
2
|V
 
2
O
 
6
]
21.2.14Delrioite
CaSr[(OH)
 
2
|V
 
2
O
 
6
] · 3H
 
2
O
21.2.15Straczekite
(Ca,K,Ba)V
 
8
O
 
20
·3H
 
2
O
21.2.16Gamagarite
Ba
 
2
(Fe
3+
 
,Mn
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]

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.

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    Localities for Melanovanadite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
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    (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
      • 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
      • Daniel Alcides Carrión Province
        • Cerro de Pasco
          • Junín
    		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
    		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.
        • Thompsons District (S. E. Thomsons)
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Wilson Mesa
    		Handbook of Mineralogy
      • San Juan Co.
        • La Sal Quadrangle
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
        • Paradox Valley
          • Paradox Valley District
    		UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
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