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Metavariscite

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Utahlite claim (Lucin Variscite), Lucin, Lucin District, Pilot Range, Box Elder Co., Utah, USA
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Metavariscite Photos (15)
Formula:
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Light green; colourless ...
Hardness:3½
Name:In allusion to its dimorphous relationship to Variscite.
Dimorph of:Variscite


Metavariscite Group. The monoclinic dimorph of Variscite.

Classification of Metavariscite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CD.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
D : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:40.4.3.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.7.6

19 : Phosphates
7 : Phosphates of Al alone
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Type Occurrence of Metavariscite

Type Locality:Edison Bird Mine, Utahlite Hill, Lucin District, Pilot Range, Box Elder Co., Utah, USA
Year of Discovery:1925
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Variscite

Physical Properties of Metavariscite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Light green; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {010}.
Density (measured):2.54 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.53 g/cm3

Crystallography of Metavariscite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m (P1 1 21/m) [P21/m] {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 5.18Å, b = 9.51Å, c = 8.45Å
β = 90.4°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.545 : 1 : 0.889
Unit Cell Volume:V 416.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals thin to thick tabular {010}, equant or slightly elongated [001] or [100], yielding lath-like forms; long prismatic [100] rare. Form development is markedly pseudo-orthorhombic. Also occurs as loosely coherent granular masses.
Twinning:On {102}, as contact twins.

Optical Data of Metavariscite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.551 nβ = 1.558 nγ = 1.582
2V:Measured: 55° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.031

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r < v strong

Chemical Properties of Metavariscite

Formula:
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, P

Relationship of Metavariscite to other Species

Related to:
  • Metavariscite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    8.CD.05Kolbeckite
    ScPO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.05Phosphosiderite
    FePO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.05UM2005-02
    ScAsO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.10Mansfieldite
    AlAsO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.10Scorodite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		AsO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.10Strengite
    FePO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.10Variscite
    AlPO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.10Yanomamite
    InAsO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.15Parascorodite
    Fe
    3+
     
    		AsO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.20Ludlamite
    (Fe,Mn,Mg)
     
    3
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.25Sterlinghillite
    Mn
     
    3
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.CD.30Rollandite
    Cu
     
    3
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		·4H
     
    2
    		O
    Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

    - +
    19.7.1Berlinite
    Al[PO
     
    4
    		]
    19.7.2Augelite
    Al
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
    19.7.3Trolleite
    Al
     
    4
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    19.7.4Senegalite
    Al
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|PO
     
    4
    		] · H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.5Variscite
    AlPO
     
    4
    		·2H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.7Bolivarite
    Al
     
    2
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|PO
     
    4
    		] · 4-5H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.8Wavellite
    Al
     
    3
    		[(OH,F)
     
    3
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.9Evansite
    Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|PO
     
    4
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.10Vantasselite
    Al
     
    4
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    3
    		 · 9H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.11Kingite
    Al
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 9H
     
    2
    		O
    19.7.12Vashegyite
    Al
     
    11
    		[(OH)
     
    6
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    9
    		] · 38H
     
    2
    		O

    Other Names for Metavariscite

    Other Languages:
    German:Metavariscit
    Russian:Метаварисцит
    Spanish:Metavariscita

    Other Information

    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 Metavariscite

    Reference List:Schaller (1912) USGS Bull. 509: 48 (as Variscite).

    Schaller (1916) UGS Bull. 610: 69 (as Variscite).

    Larsen and Schaller (1925) American Mineralogist: 10: 23-28.

    Ulrich (1930) Rozpr. České Ak., Cl. 2, 39, no. 17.

    Strunz and Sztrókay (1939) Zentralblatt Mineralien: 272.

    McConnell (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 719.

    McConnell (1943) Geological Association of America Bull.: 54: 707.

    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.: 767-769.

    Acta Crystallographica (1973): B29: 2292-2294.

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    Localities for Metavariscite

    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.
    Austria
     
    • Lower Austria
      • Waldviertel
        • Mühldorf
    		R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Colombia
     
    • Cauca Department
    		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: 769.
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz Mts
        • Clausthal-Zellerfeld
          • Oberschulenberg
    		Lapis, 11 (1), 9-18+42
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    		T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Thabazimbi
        • Glenover carbonatite
    		Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Barcelona
        • Vallès Oriental
          • Montcada i Reixac
    		Mineralogistes de Catalunya (1997), VII (1): 34-55
    • Navarre (Navarra; Nafarroa)
      • Esteribar
        • Eugui
    		Calvo, M. and Viñals, J. (2003). El yacimiento de magnesita de Eugui (Navarra). Revista de Minerales, 2 (4) 6-21
    USA
     
    • Arkansas
    		Howard, 1987. Mineral Species of Arkansas, addenda
    • Idaho
      • Fremont Co.
    		Ream, Lanny R. 2004. Idaho Minerals, 2nd edition, Revised and Updated
    • Nevada
      • Elko Co.
        • Carlin District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Esmeralda Co.
    		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: 769; NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada.
    NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Humboldt Co.
        • Iron Point District
          • Valmy
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
      • Nye Co.
        • Tybo District
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • Utah
      • Box Elder Co.
        • Pilot Range
          • Lucin District
            • Lucin
    		J. Marty (1995) Minerals of the Utahlite Claim (Edison and Bird Mine), Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah. Microprobe 8-2:4-10
            • Utahlite Hill
    		American Mineralogist (1925) 10, 23-28; 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: 769.
    • Wisconsin
      • Dodge Co.
        • Iron Ridge District (Neda Iron District)
    		Rocks & Min. Vol. 73 (1998)
    Mineral and/or Locality
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