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Metavariscite

Big Photo

Utahlite claim (Lucin Variscite), Lucin, Lucin District, Pilot Range, Box Elder Co., Utah, USA
© Elmar Lackner 2009

Show Metavariscite Photos (23)
Formula:
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Light green; colourless ...
Hardness:3½
Name:In allusion to its dimorphous relationship to Variscite.
Dimorph of:Variscite


Metavariscite Group. The monoclinic dimorph of Variscite.

Classification of Metavariscite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/C.09-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.CD.05

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:40.4.3.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.7.6

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

Type Locality:Edison Bird Mine, Utahlite Hill, Lucin District, Pilot Range, Box Elder Co., Utah, USA
Year of Discovery:1925
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Variscite

Physical Properties of Metavariscite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Light green; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
On {010}.
Density (measured):2.54 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.53 g/cm3

Crystallography of Metavariscite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/m {P1 1 21/m} {P21/m} {P1 21/m 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 5.18Å, b = 9.51Å, c = 8.45Å
β = 90.4°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.545 : 1 : 0.889
Unit Cell Volume:V 416.25 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals thin to thick tabular {010}, equant or slightly elongated [001] or [100], yielding lath-like forms; long prismatic [100] rare. Form development is markedly pseudo-orthorhombic. Also occurs as loosely coherent granular masses.
Twinning:On {102}, as contact twins.

Optical Data of Metavariscite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.551 nβ = 1.558 nγ = 1.582
2V:Measured: 55° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.031

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

Chemical Properties of Metavariscite

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

Relationship of Metavariscite to other Species

Member of Group:
Metavariscite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.CD.05Kolbeckite
ScPO
 
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
Fe
3+
 
AsO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CD.10Strengite
FePO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CD.10Variscite
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CD.10Yanomamite
InAsO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
8.CD.15Parascorodite
Fe
3+
 
AsO
 
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
Al[PO
 
4
]
19.7.2Augelite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
]
19.7.3Trolleite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
19.7.4Senegalite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
19.7.5Variscite
AlPO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
19.7.7Bolivarite
Al
 
2
[(OH)
 
3
|PO
 
4
] · 4-5H
 
2
O
19.7.8Wavellite
Al
 
3
[(OH,F)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5H
 
2
O
19.7.9Evansite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|PO
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.7.10Vantasselite
Al
 
4
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
3
 · 9H
 
2
O
19.7.11Kingite
Al
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 9H
 
2
O
19.7.12Vashegyite
Al
 
11
[(OH)
 
6
|(PO
 
4
)
 
9
] · 38H
 
2
O

Other Names for Metavariscite

Other Languages:
German:Metavariscit
Russian:Метаварисцит
Spanish:Metavariscita

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 Metavariscite

Reference List:Schaller (1912) USGS Bull. 509: 48 (as Variscite).

Schaller (1916) UGS Bull. 610: 69 (as Variscite).

Larsen and Schaller (1925) American Mineralogist: 10: 23-28.

Ulrich (1930) Rozpr. České Ak., Cl. 2, 39, no. 17.

Strunz and Sztrókay (1939) Zentralblatt Mineralien: 272.

McConnell (1940) American Mineralogist: 25: 719.

McConnell (1943) Geological Association of America Bull.: 54: 707.

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.: 767-769.

Acta Crystallographica (1973): B29: 2292-2294.

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    Localities for Metavariscite

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