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Metavariscite

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Formula:
AlPO
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Light green; colourless ...
Hardness:
Member of:Metavariscite Group
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, 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):
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

Member of:Metavariscite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Kolbeckite
ScPO
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
Phosphosiderite
FePO
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
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-AsO:AlHPScSi
ScAsO
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
8.CD.10Mansfieldite
AlAsO
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
8.CD.10Scorodite
FeAsO
 
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
FeAsO
 
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
AlPO
 
4
19.7.2Augelite
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
19.7.3Trolleite
Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
19.7.4Senegalite
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
· H
 
2
O
19.7.5Variscite
AlPO
 
4
· 2H
 
2
O
19.7.7Bolivarite
Al
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
3
· 4-5H
 
2
O
19.7.8Wavellite
Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,F)
 
3
· 5H
 
2
O
19.7.9Evansite
Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
 
6
· 6H
 
2
O
19.7.10Vantasselite
Al
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
· 9H
 
2
O
19.7.11Kingite
Al
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
3
· 9H
 
2
O
19.7.12Vashegyite
Al
 
11
(PO
 
4
)
 
9
(OH)
 
6
· 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.

Internet Links for Metavariscite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Metavariscite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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  • Localities for Metavariscite

    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.
    (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.
    Australia
     
    • Western Australia
      • Upper Gascoyne Shire
        • Woodlands station
    Nickel, E. H. et al. (2008): The Woodlands variscite-gold occurrence in the north Gascoyne region of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Mineralogy 14, 27-36.
    Austria
     
    • Lower Austria
      • Waldviertel
        • Mühldorf
    R. Exel: Die Mineralien und Erzlagerstätten Österreichs (1993)
    Bolivia
     
    • Potosí Department
      • Sud Chichas Province
        • Atocha-Quechisla District
          • Cerro Chorolque
    Kempff, O., Paar, W.H., Tawackoli, S.: "Minerales de Bolivia", 115pp (La Paz, 2009)
    Colombia
     
    • San Andrés y Providencia 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.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Aš (Asch)
    Breiter K., Škoda R., Veselovský F.: Neobvyklý P-, Li- a Sn-bohatý pegmatit z Vernéřova u Aše, Česká republika. Bulletin Mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 2009, roč. 17, č. 1, s. 41-59.
    Germany
     
    • Lower Saxony
      • Harz
        • Clausthal-Zellerfeld
          • Oberschulenberg
    Lapis, 11 (1), 9-18+42
    • Thuringia
      • Gera
        • Ronneburg U deposit
    T. Witzke & F. Rüger: Lapis 1998(7/8), 26-64
    Poland
     
    • Świętokrzyskie
      • Świętokrzyskie Mts (Holy Cross Mts)
    Wieser T., 1975: THE LUCIN- AND MESSBACH-TYPE VARISCITES FROM WIŚNIÓWKA (ŚWIĘTOKRZYSKIE MTS.). Mineralogia Polonica Vol. 6, No. 2
    South Africa
     
    • Limpopo Province
      • Thabazimbi
        • Glenover carbonatite
    Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Catalonia
      • Barcelona
        • Vallès Occidental
          • Montcada i Reixac
    Mineralogistes de Catalunya (1997), VII (1): 34-55
    • Navarre
      • Esteríbar
        • Eugui
    Calvo, M. y Viñals, J. (2003). Los minerales de las explotaciones 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
              • 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.
    J. Marty (1995) Minerals of the Utahlite Claim (Edison and Bird Mine), Lucin, Box Elder County, Utah. Microprobe 8-2:4-10
    • Wisconsin
      • Dodge Co.
        • Iron Ridge District (Neda Iron District)
    Rocks & Min. Vol. 73 (1998)
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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