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Vigezzite

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Formula:
(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
System:OrthorhombicColour:Orange-yellow
Hardness:4½ - 5
Member of:Aeschynite Group
Name:Named after its discovery locality in the Vigezzo valley, Piedmont, Italy.

Classification of Vigezzite

IMA status:Approved 1977
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/D.21-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.DF.05

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
D : Metal: Oxygen = 1:2 and similar
F : With large (+- medium-sized) cations; dimers and trimers of edgesharing octahedra
Dana 8th edition ID:8.3.7.1

8 : MULTIPLE OXIDES CONTAINING NIOBIUM,TANTALUM OR TITANIUM
3 : AB2O6
Hey's CIM Ref.:18.2.19

18 : Niobates and Tantalates
2 : Niobates and tantalates containing rare earths but not U
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Type Occurrence of Vigezzite

Type Locality:Alpe Rosso, Orcesco, Druogno, Vigezzo Valley, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy
Year of Discovery:1977

Physical Properties of Vigezzite

Colour:Orange-yellow
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):4½ - 5
Cleavage:Distinct/Good

Crystallography of Vigezzite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.55Å, b = 11.03Å, c = 5.36Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.684 : 1 : 0.486
Unit Cell Volume:V 446.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Vigezzite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 2.140 nγ = 2.315
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.175

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

Chemical Properties of Vigezzite

Formula:
(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
O
 
6
Essential elements:Ca, Nb, O
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Ce, Nb, O, Ti
Common Impurities:Ta

Relationship of Vigezzite to other Species

Member of:Aeschynite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Aeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Aeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Aeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Nioboaeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Nioboaeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti,Fe,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Nioboaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Ce,Nd,Th)(Nb,Ti,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
Tantalaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.DF.05Aeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DF.05Aeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DF.05Aeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DF.05Nioboaeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DF.05Nioboaeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti,Fe,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DF.05Nioboaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Ce,Nd,Th)(Nb,Ti,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
4.DF.05Rynersonite
Ca(Ta,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DF.05Tantalaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
4.DF.10Changbaiite
PbNb
 
2
O
 
6
4.DF.15Murataite-(Y)
(Y,Na)
 
6
Zn(Zn,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
(Ti,Nb,Na)
 
12
O
 
29
(O,F,OH)
 
10
F
 
4
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
18.2.1Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
18.2.2β-Fergusonite-(Y)
YNbO
 
4
18.2.3Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
18.2.4β-Fergusonite-(Ce)
(Ce,La,Nd)NbO
 
4
18.2.5Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O
 
4
18.2.6β-Fergusonite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce)NbO
 
4
18.2.7Formanite-(Y)
YTaO
 
4
18.2.8Pyrochlore Group
A
 
2
Nb
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
Z
18.2.9Ceriopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977)
18.2.10Strontiopyrochlore (of Hogarth 1977)
18.2.11Loparite-(Ce)
(Na,Ce,Ca,Sr,Th)(Ti,Nb,Fe)O
 
3
18.2.12Fersmite
(Ca,Y)(Nb,Ta,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.13Aeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.14Aeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.15Aeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ca,Fe,Th)(Ti,Nb)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.16Nioboaeschynite-(Ce)
(Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.17Nioboaeschynite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Ca,Th)(Nb,Ti,Fe,Ta)
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
18.2.18Tantalaeschynite-(Y)
(Y,Ce,Ca)(Ta,Ti,Nb)
 
2
O
 
6
18.2.20Murataite-(Y)
(Y,Na)
 
6
Zn(Zn,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
(Ti,Nb,Na)
 
12
O
 
29
(O,F,OH)
 
10
F
 
4

Other Names for Vigezzite

Synonyms:
IMA1977-008
Other Languages:
German:Vigezzit
Russian:Виджеццит
Spanish:Vigezzita

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 Vigezzite

Reference List:

- +
Graeser, S., Schwander, H., Hänni, H., Mattioli, V. (1979): Vigezzite, (Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6, a new aeschynite-type mineral from the Alps. Mineralogical Magazine, 43, 459-462.

Mattioli, V. (1979): La vigezzite, nuovo minerale. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 1979, 5-13.

American Mineralogist (1980): 65: 811-812.

Mattioli, V. (1983): Fersmit und Vigezzit: zwei seltene Minerale von Orcesco im Val Vigezzo. Lapis, 8, 22-24.

Mattioli, V. (1987): Novità mineralogiche in Val d'Ossola. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 10, 1-11.

Zhuravleva, L.N., Ryabeva, Y.G., Yurkina, K.V., Solntseva, L.S. (1989): First discovery of vigezzite in USSR, Kola Peninsula. Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, 8, 134-136.

Giuseppetti G. & Tadini C. (1990): The crystal structure of vigezzite, (Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)2O6, intermediate term of the aeschynite series. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte (1990): 301-308.

Albertini, C. (1996): I minerali del V.C.O. - Vigezzite. Rivista Ossolana, 2, 78.

Albertini C. (1996): Das Valle Vigezzo (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola) in Piemont, Italien. Eine klassische Mineralfundstelle in den Alpen. Mineralien Welt, VII, 39; 42.

Aurisicchio, C., De Vito, C., Ferrini, V., Orlandi, P. (2001): Nb-Ta oxide minerals from miarolitic pegmatites of the Baveno pink granite, NW Italy. Mineralogical Magazine, 65, 509-522.

Internet Links for Vigezzite

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

    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.
    Brazil
     
    • São Paulo
      • Cajati
    No reference listed
    Canada
     
    • Ontario
      • Renfrew Co.
        • Lyndoch Township
          • Quadeville
    ontariominerals.com
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Ossola Valley
          • Vigezzo Valley
            • Druogno
              • Orcesco
    St. Graeser et al.: Mineral. Mag. 43:459-462 (1979); Mattioli V. (1987) - Novità mineralogiche in Val d'Ossola - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, fasc. 1, pp.1-11
            • Trontano
    Mattioli V. (1987) - Novità mineralogiche in Val d'Ossola - Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, Milano, fasc. 1, pp.1-11
    Madagascar
     
    • Antananarivo Province
      • Vakinankaratra Region
        • Betafo District
          • Andrembesoa Commune
            • Tetezantsio-Andoabatokely Pegmatite Field
    Pezzotta, Federico (2007): Ta-Nb borates and other rare accessory phases in granitic pegmatites of the Itremo region, central Madagascar. Bergverksmuseet Skrift 35,97-98
    Russia
     
    • Northern Region
      • Murmanskaja Oblast'
        • Kola Peninsula
    Spain
     
    • Madrid
    Tanago, J. G., Lozano, P. L., Larios, A. , La Iglesia, A. (2012) Stokesite crystals from La Cabrera, Madrid, Spain. Mineralogical Record 43:499-508
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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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