Mindat Logo

Vertumnite

Formula:
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
·3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, green
Hardness:5
Name:
From “Vertumnus” an Etruscan goddess adopted lately by Romans. It was a "rural" goddess of “mutation” and the protector of the evolution of fruit towards maturity.
This page provides mineralogical data about Vertumnite.

Classification of Vertumnite

IMA status:Approved 1975
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.39-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.EG.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
G : Double nets with 6-membered and larger rings
Dana 8th edition ID:73.1.6.1

73 : PHYLLOSILICATES Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets
1 : Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets with double layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.9.21

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-4174.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Vertumnite

Type Locality:Campomorto Quarry, Pietra Massa Locality, Montalto di Castro, Viterbo Province, Latium, Italy
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Municipal Museum of natural history, Milan, Italy
Year of Discovery:1977
Geological Setting of type material:Cavity in a phonolite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TobermoriteEttringite

Physical Properties of Vertumnite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless, green
Hardness (Mohs):5
Tenacity:Very brittle
Density (measured):2.15(4) g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.15 g/cm3

Crystallography of Vertumnite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Space Group Setting:P1 1 21/m
Cell Parameters:a = 5.744(5) Å, b = 5.766(5) Å, c = 25.120(1) Å
γ = 119.72(5)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.996 : 1 : 4.357
Unit Cell Volume:V 0.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Flattened hexagonal prisms
Twinning:Cyclic contact plane parallel to {001}, common
Comment:Strongly pseudohexagonal (a = 5.75 Å, c = 25.1 Å).

Optical Data of Vertumnite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.531 nβ = 1.535 nγ = 1.541
2V:Measured: 62° , Calculated: 80°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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

Chemical Properties of Vertumnite

Formula:
Ca
 
4
Al
 
4
Si
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
24
·3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, H, O, Si
Common Impurities:Sr,Ba,Na,K,P

Relationship of Vertumnite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.EG.05Cymrite
BaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
(O,OH)
 
8
·H
 
2
O
9.EG.10Naujakasite
(Na,K)
 
6
(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
,Ca)(Al,Fe)
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
26
9.EG.10Manganonaujakasite
Na
 
6
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
2+
 
)Al
 
4
Si
 
8
O
 
26
9.EG.15Dmisteinbergite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
9.EG.20Kampfite
Ba
 
12
(Si
 
11
Al
 
5
)O
 
31
(CO
 
3
)
 
8
Cl
 
5
9.EG.25Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
·8H
 
2
O
9.EG.30Eggletonite
(Na,K,Ca)
 
2
(Mn,Fe)
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
29
(OH)
 
7
·11H
 
2
O
9.EG.30Ganophyllite
(K,Na,Ca)
 
2
Mn
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
(O,OH)
 
32
·8H
 
2
O
9.EG.30Tamaite
(Ca,K,Ba,Na)
 
3-4
Mn
 
24
(Si,Al)
 
40
(O,OH)
 
112
·21H
 
2
O
9.EG.35Coombsite
K(Mn,Fe,Mg)
 
13
(Si,Al)
 
18
O
 
42
(OH)
 
14
9.EG.35Zussmanite
K(Fe,Mg,Mn)
 
13
(Si,Al)
 
18
O
 
42
(OH)
 
14
9.EG.40Franklinphilite
(K,Na)
 
4
(Mn,Zn,Mg,Fe)
 
48
(Si,Al)
 
72
(O,OH)
 
216
·6H
 
2
O
9.EG.40Lennilenapeite
K
 
6-7
(Mg,Mn,Fe,Zn)
 
48
(Si,Al)
 
72
(O,OH)
 
216
·16H
 
2
O
9.EG.40Parsettensite
K
 
1.2
Mn
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
O
 
26
(OH)
 
10
9.EG.40Stilpnomelane
(K,Ca,Na)(Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
8
(Si,Al)
 
12
(O,OH)
 
36
· nH
 
2
O
9.EG.45Latiumite
K
 
2
Ca
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
11
O
 
25
(SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
)
9.EG.45Tuscanite
(K(Ca,Na)
 
6
(Si,Al)
 
10
O
 
22
[SO
 
4
,CO
 
3
,(OH)
 
2
]·H
 
2
O
9.EG.50Jagoite
(Pb,Ca)
 
3
FeSi
 
3
O
 
10
(Cl,OH)
9.EG.55Wickenburgite
CaPb
 
3
Al
 
2
Si
 
10
O
 
24
(OH)
 
6
9.EG.60Hyttsjöite
Pb
 
18
Ba
 
2
Ca
 
5
Mn
2+
2
Fe
3+
2
Si
 
30
O
 
90
Cl·6H
 
2
O
9.EG.65Armbrusterite
K
 
5
Na
 
7
Mn
 
15
[(OH)
 
10
|(Si
 
9
O
 
22
)
 
4
] · 4H
 
2
O
9.EG.70Britvinite
[Pb
 
7
(OH)
 
3
F(BO
 
3
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)][Mg
 
4.5
(OH)
 
3
(Si
 
5
O
 
14
)]
9.EG.75Bannisterite
Ca
 
0.5
(K,Na)
 
0.5
(Mn,Fe,Zn)
 
10
(Si,Al)
 
16
O
 
38
(OH)
 
8
·5.5H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
16.9.1Gehlenite
Ca
 
2
Al[AlSiO
 
7
]
16.9.2Anorthite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.3Yoshiokaite
(Ca,Na)[Al(Al,Si)O
 
4
]
16.9.4Svyatoslavite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.5Dmisteinbergite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
]
16.9.6Grossular
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
 
3
16.9.7Vuagnatite
CaAl[OH|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.8Zoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.9Clinozoisite
{Ca
 
2
}{Al
 
3
}[O|OH|SiO
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
16.9.10Prehnite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
16.9.11Kamaishilite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.12Bicchulite
Ca
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
SiO
 
6
]
16.9.13Margarite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
10
]
16.9.14Chantalite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|SiO
 
4
]
16.9.15Cebollite
Ca
 
5
Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
12
(OH)
 
4
or near
16.9.17Katoite
Ca
 
3
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
8-6
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-1.5
]
16.9.18Lawsonite
CaAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
2
O
 
7
] · H
 
2
O
16.9.19Parthéite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·2H
 
2
O
16.9.20Wairakite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
] · 2H
 
2
O
16.9.22Scolecite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
] · 3H
 
2
O
16.9.23Laumontite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
4
O
 
12
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.24Yugawaralite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.25Gismondine-Ca
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
8
·4H
 
2
O
16.9.26Epistilbite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·5H
 
2
O
16.9.27Goosecreekite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
16
] · 5H
 
2
O
16.9.28Cowlesite
CaAl
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
10
·6H
 
2
O
16.9.30Stellerite
Ca[Al
 
2
Si
 
7
O
 
18
] · 7H
 
2
O
16.9.31Strätlingite
Ca
 
2
Al
 
2
SiO
 
7
·8H
 
2
O
16.9.32Amstallite
CaAl(Si,Al)
 
4
O
 
8
(OH)
 
4
·(H
 
2
O,Cl)

Other Names for Vertumnite

Synonyms:
IMA1975-043
Other Languages:
German:Vertumnit
Russian:Вертумнит
Spanish:Vertumnita

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 Vertumnite

Reference List:Passaglia, E. & Galli, E. (1977): Vertumnite, a new natural silicate. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 24: 57-66.

American Mineralogist (1977): 62: 1061.

Galli, E. and E. Passaglia (1978): Vertumnite: its crystal structure and relationship with natural and synthetic phases. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 25: 33-46.

Rinaldi, R., Sacerdoti, M. & Passaglia, E. (1990): Strätlingite: Crystal structure, chemistry, and a reexamination of its polytype vertumnite. European Journal of Mineralogy: 2: 841-849.

American Mineralogist (1992): 77: 674-675.

Internet Links for Vertumnite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Vertumnite on Google
  • Look for Vertumnite images on Google
  • External Links:
  • Look for Vertumnite on Webmineral
  • Look for Vertumnite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Vertumnite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Vertumnite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Vertumnite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Vertumnite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
  • Mineral Dealers:
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
  • Search for - Vertumnite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Vertumnite specimens
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality specimens
  • Buy minerals from Mineralium.com
  • Find Vertumnite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs
  • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Vertumnite

    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.
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Eifel Mts
        • Mayen
          • Ettringen
            • Bellerberg volcano
              • Ettringer Bellerberg Mt. (Bellberg Mt.; Bellenberg Mt.; Billenberg Mt.; Boilenberg Mt.)
    [Blass, G., Graf, H.W., Neue Mineralfunde - mineralogische Raritäten - aus der Vulkaneifel, Mineralien-Welt 7/5, 28, 1996] [A. Wittern: Mineralfundorte in Deutschland, Schweizerbart (Stuttgart), 2001]
    Italy
     
    • Latium
      • Rome Province
    Caponera, I., Fiori, S., Pucci, R., & Signoretti, E. (2007). I minerali dei Colli Albani. Un aggiornamento sugli ultimi dieci anni di ricerche. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 31 (2), 74-91.
        • Rome
          • Valleranello
    Pucci, R. (2004): Vertumnite e tobermorite in un nodulo termometamorfosato nella leucitite di Vallerano (RM). Il Cercapietre, 1-2/2004, 70-71.
      • Viterbo Province
        • Montalto di Castro
          • Pietra Massa Locality
    Passaglia, E. & Turconi, B. (1982): Silicati ed altri minerali di Montalto di Castro - VT. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 4/1982, 97-110.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. 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. Current server date and time: 8th Oct 2009 15:27:13