Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (4 online) Mindat Auctions

Vauxite

Big Photo

Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi), Llallagua, Bustillos Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
© Rob Lavinsky

Show Vauxite Photos (55)
Formula:
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:Sky-blue, dark blue; ...
Hardness:3½
Name:Named after George Vaux, Jr. (1863-1927), attorney and mineral collector of Bryn Mawr, Pennslvania (USA).


Vantasselite Group.

A secondary mineral derived from the alteration of apatite.

Classification of Vauxite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/D.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.DC.35

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
Dana 8th edition ID:42.11.14.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.14.23

19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-4164.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Vauxite

Type Locality:Siglo Veinte Mine (Siglo XX Mine; Llallagua Mine; Catavi), Llallagua, Bustillos Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Place of Conservation of Type Material:U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #97561, #103542.
Year of Discovery:1922
Geological Setting of type material:Hydrothermal tin veins.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
WavelliteParavauxite

Occurrences of Vauxite

Geological Setting:Alteration of apatite.

Physical Properties of Vauxite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Sky-blue, dark blue; pale blue in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:None Observed
Density (measured):2.39 - 2.4 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.4 g/cm3

Crystallography of Vauxite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:P1
Cell Parameters:a = 9.142Å, b = 11.599Å, c = 6.158Å
α = 98.29°, β = 91.93°, γ = 108.27°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.788 : 1 : 0.531
Unit Cell Volume:V 611.42 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals tabular {010}, elongated [001] or [101]. May exhibit may forms, including {010}, {110}, {111}, {101}, {111}, {101}, and {140}. Forms radial to subparallel aggregates; nodular.
Twinning:on {010}, twin and composition plane.

Optical Data of Vauxite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.551 nβ = 1.555 nγ = 1.562
2V:Measured: 32°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.011

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v weak
Pleochroism:Strong
Comments:X = Z = Colourless
Y = Blue

Chemical Properties of Vauxite

Formula:
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Fe, H, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Al, Fe, H, O, P

Relationship of Vauxite to other Species

Common Associates:
Wavellite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.DC.IMA 2007-057
CuFe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.DC.05Nissonite
Cu
 
2
Mg
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.07Euchroite
Cu
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
8.DC.10Legrandite
Zn
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
8.DC.12Strashimirite
Cu
 
8
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Arthurite
CuFe
3+
2
[(OH,O)|(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Earlshannonite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Ojuelaite
ZnFe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Whitmoreite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Cobaltarthurite
(Co,Mg)Fe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.15Bendadaite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.17Kleemanite
ZnAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.DC.20Bermanite
Mn
2+
 
Mn
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.22Kovdorskite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)·3H
 
2
O
8.DC.25Ferristrunzite
Fe
3+
3
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5(H
 
2
O,OH)
8.DC.25Ferrostrunzite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.25Metavauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.25Strunzite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.27Beraunite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
5
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Gordonite
MgAl
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Laueite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Mangangordonite
Mn
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Paravauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Pseudolaueite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Sigloite
Fe
3+
 
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Stewartite
Mn
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Ushkovite
MgFe
3+
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Ferrolaueite
Fe
2+
 
Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Kastningite
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.30Maghrebite
MgAl
 
2
[OH|AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.DC.32Tinticite
Fe
3+
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.37Vantasselite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
8.DC.40Cacoxenite
Fe
3+
24
Al[(OH)
 
12
|O
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
17
] · 17H
 
2
O
8.DC.45Gormanite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DC.45Souzalite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.DC.47Kingite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
8.DC.50Wavellite
Al
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.50Allanpringite
Fe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
8.DC.52Kribergite
Al
 
5
[(OH)
 
4
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
8.DC.55Mapimite
Zn
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 10H
 
2
O
8.DC.57Ogdensburgite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
4
(Zn,Mn
2+
 
)[(OH)
 
3
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.DC.60Nevadaite
(Cu
2+
 
,Al,V
3+
 
)
 
6
Al
 
8
(PO
 
4
)
 
8
F
 
8
(OH)
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
22
8.DC.60Cloncurryite
(Cu,VO)Al
 
2
[(F,OH)|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4.5-5H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
19.14.1Cyrilovite
NaFe
3+
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.2Kidwellite
NaFe
3+
9
[(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.14.3Rosemaryite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe
2+
 
)(Fe
3+
 
,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.4Wyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.5Ferrowyllieite
(Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO
 
4
)
 
3
19.14.6Natrodufrénite
NaFe
2+
 
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.7Leucophosphite
KFe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.8Spheniscidite
(NH
 
4
,K)(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.9Burangaite
(Na,Ca
 
0.5
)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
5
[(OH,O)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.10Satterlyite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
[(OH,O)|PO
 
4
]
19.14.11Ushkovite
MgFe
3+
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.12Garyansellite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH,O)·1.5H
 
2
O
19.14.13Thadeuite
Ca(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH,F)|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.14Anapaite
Ca
 
2
Fe
2+
 
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.14.15Xanthoxenite
Ca
 
4
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.16Calcioferrite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 7H
 
2
O
19.14.17Mitridatite
Ca
 
2
Fe
3+
3
[O
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.18Mélonjosephite
CaFe
2+
 
Fe
3+
 
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
19.14.19Delvauxite
CaFe
 
4
(PO
 
4
,SO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
8
·4-6H
 
2
O not confirmed·
19.14.20Collinsite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.21Segelerite
Ca
 
2
 Mg
 
2
 Fe
3+
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.22Kingsmountite
Ca
 
4
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)Al
 
4
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 12H
 
2
O
19.14.24Metavauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.25Paravauxite
Fe
2+
 
Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.14.26Sigloite
Fe
3+
 
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 7H
 
2
O
19.14.27Cacoxenite
Fe
3+
24
Al[(OH)
 
12
|O
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
17
] · 17H
 
2
O
19.14.28Koninckite
Fe
3+
 
[PO
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
19.14.29Lazulite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.30Scorzalite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Al
 
2
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
19.14.31Souzalite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.32Gormanite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.14.33Zaïrite
Bi(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]

Other Names for Vauxite

German names:
Vauxit
Russian names:
Воксит
Spanish names:
Vauxita

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 Vauxite

Reference List:Gordon (1922) Science: 56: 50.

American Mineralogist (1922): 7: 108.

Gordon (1923) Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia: 75: 261.

Gordon (1944) Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia: 96: 344.

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.: 974-975.

Baur, W.H. and B. Rama Rao (1968) The crystal structure and the chemical composition of vauxite. American Mineralogist (1968): 53: 1025-1028.

Blanchard, F.N. and S.A. Abernathy (1980) X-ray powder diffraction data for phosphate minerals: vauxite, metavauxite,
vivianite, Mn-heterosite, scorzalite, and lazulite. Florida Scientist, 43, 257–265.

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.: 625.

Internet Links for Vauxite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Vauxite on Google
  • Look for Vauxite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Vauxite on Webmineral
  • Look for Vauxite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Vauxite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Vauxite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Vauxite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Vauxite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • rare and unusual minerals mainly crystallized
  • e-Rocks - Mineral Auctions and Sales
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Vauxite specimens
  • Find Vauxite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to find out how you can sponsor this page.

    Localities for Vauxite

    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.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (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.
    Bolivia
     
    • Oruro Department
      • Dalence Province
    		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.: 625 (probably erroneous)
    • Potosí Department
      • Bustillos Province
    American Mineralogist (1922): 7: 107-108; 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: 975.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. 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. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.