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Variscite

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Big Photo

Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Fairfield, Oquirrh Mts, Utah Co., Utah, USA
© Kristalle and Crys

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Formula:
AlPO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale to emerald-green, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, WaxyHardness:3½ - 4½
Member of:Variscite Group
Name:
For Variscia, an old name for Vogtland, the German district where the mineral was first discovered.
Dimorph of:Metavariscite


Variscite-Strengite Series.
The orthorhombic dimorph of Metavariscite.

Pseudo-tetragonal-dipyramidal crystals may be confused with wardite.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Variscite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Variscite

IMA status:Approved 1967
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.09-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CD.10

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:40.4.1.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.7.5

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

Type Locality:Meßbach Quarry, Meßbach, Plauen, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1837

Occurrences of Variscite

Geological Setting:Deposited from phosphatic waters reacting with aluminous rocks at surface or near-surface conditions.

Physical Properties of Variscite

Lustre:Vitreous, Waxy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Pale to emerald-green, bluish green, colourless to white, pale shades of brown or yellow, rarely red; Colourless to pale green in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½ - 4½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {010}, poor on {001}.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Splintery
Comment:Sub-conchoidal to conchoidal when fine-grained or glassy.
Density (measured):2.57 - 2.61 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.59 g/cm3
Comment:Density of 2.2 to 2.5 observed in microcrystalline and massive varieties.

Crystallography of Variscite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Pbca {P21/b 21/c 21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.822Å, b = 8.561Å, c = 9.63Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.147 : 1 : 1.125
Unit Cell Volume:V 808.81 ų
Z:8
Morphology:Uncommon in crystals, pseudo-octahedral {111}, with {001} and additional forms as modifying faces only, lathlike. Commonly fine-grained massive, nodular, stalagtitic, crustiform, veinlets; chalcedonic, opaline.
Twinning:On {201}, rare.
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 Variscite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.563 nβ = 1.588 nγ = 1.594
2V:Measured: 50° , Calculated: 50°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.031

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

Chemical Properties of Variscite

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

Relationship of Variscite to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Strengite (see here)
Member of:Variscite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Mansfieldite
AlAsO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Scorodite
FeAsO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Strengite
FePO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Yanomamite
InAsO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
Common Associates:
WavelliteMetavarisciteLimoniteCrandalliteChalcedony
Apatite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CD.05Kolbeckite
ScPO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.CD.05Metavariscite
AlPO
 
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.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
19.7.6Metavariscite
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 Variscite

Synonyms:
Alpha-varisciteAmatriceChlor-utahliteChlor-utaliteLucinite
PeganiteSphaeriteUtahlite
Other Languages:
Dutch:Varisciet
French:Variquoise
German:Lucinit
Peganit
Sphärit
Variscit
Italian:Variscite
Polish:Waryscyt
Russian:Варисцит
Simplified Chinese:磷铝石
Slovak:Variscit
Spanish:Lucinita
Peganita
Sphaerita
Variscita
Ukrainian:Варисцит
Varieties:
Ferrian VarisciteGelvarisciteRedondite

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in alkalies. Slightly soluble in HCl (fine-grained or chalcedonic material).

Easily altered by alkaline solutions containing alkaline earths or alkalies, yielding secondary minerals including crandallite, wardite, Montgomeryite, etc.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Industrial Uses:Gemstones & jewelry.

References for Variscite

Reference List:

- +
Breithaupt (1830) Journal für Chemie und Physik, Nuremberg: 60: 308 (as Peganite).

Breithaupt (1837) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 10: 506.

Chester (1878) American Journal of Science: 15: 207.

Kunz (1895) USGS 16th Annual Report, part 4: 602 (as Utahlite).

Tschirwinsky (1904) Ann. géol. min. Russie: 7: 28.


Sterrett (1908) USGS Mineral Resources, part 2: 832 (as Amatrice).

Sterrett (1909) USGS Mineral Resources, part 2: 853 (as Chlor-utahlite).

Pisani analysis in: Lacroix, A. (1910) Minéralogie de la France et des ses colonies, Paris. 5 volumes: vol. 4: 480-481.

Pelloux (1912) Ann. Mus. Genova: 5: 470.

Schaller (1912) Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 41: 413.

Schaller (1912) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 50: 321.

Schaller (1916) USGS Bull. 610: 56 (as Lucinite).

Moschetti (1918) Acc. Torino, Att.: 53: 1062.

Loczka analysis in: Ulrich (1922) Rozpr. České Ak., Cl. 2, 31, no. 10.

Larsen, E.S. and Schaller (1925).

Machatschki (1929) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 321.

Ulrich (1930) Rozpr. České Ak., Cl. 2, 39, no. 17 (as Alpha-variscite).

Hintze, Carl (1933) Handbuch der Mineralogie. Berlin and Leipzig. 6 volumes: 1 [4A]: 1283, 1288.

Strunz and Sztrókay (1939) Zentralblatt Mineralien: 272.

McConnell (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 719.

Kolbeck (1941) Mineralogische und petrographische Mitteilungen, Vienna: 52: 363.

Larsen, E.S. (1942) American Mineralogist: 27: 281.

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.: 756-761.

American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 36-44.

Acta Crystallographica (1977): B33: 263.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 621.

Mindat.org articles about Variscite

Article entries:
Clay Canyon & the Little Green Monster Variscite MineDave Crosby

Internet Links for Variscite

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