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Vertumnite

Big Photo

Caspar quarry, Ettringer Bellerberg Mt. (Bellberg Mt.; Bellenberg Mt.; Billenberg Mt.; Boilenberg Mt.), Bellerberg volcano, Ettringen, Mayen, Eifel Mts, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Vertumnite Photos (16)
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
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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

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  • 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)
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    Localities for Vertumnite

    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.
    (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
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