Fernandinite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Fernandinite
Formula:
(Ca,K)(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 10H2O
Colour:
Dull green; light green, dark olive-green, brownish green in transmitted light
Lustre:
Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.78
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1915 by Waldemar Theodore Schaller in honor of Eulogio Erasmo Fernandini de la Quintana (13 September 1860, Ica Peru - 24 December 1947, Lima, Peru), who was formerly an owner of the Minasragra deposit (the type locality). The name was discredited in 1989 and revalidated in 1994.
Classification of Fernandinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1915
Approval history:
Discredited in 1989. Redescribed in 1994.
4/G.11-35
4.HE.20
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
E : Phyllovanadates
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
E : Phyllovanadates
47.3.2.3
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
21.2.7
21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
2 : Vanadates of Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba
21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
2 : Vanadates of Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba
Physical Properties of Fernandinite
Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
Dull green; light green, dark olive-green, brownish green in transmitted light
Streak:
Dark green
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Waxy
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal, Micaceous
Density:
2.78 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.07 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Fernandinite
Type:
Biaxial
RI values:
n = 2.05
Birefringence:
Strong
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.000

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Comments:
2V measured value not determined.
Chemical Properties of Fernandinite
Formula:
(Ca,K)(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 10H2O
IMA Formula:
(Ca,Na,K)0.9(V5+,V4+,Fe2+,Ti)8O20 · 4H2O
Crystallography of Fernandinite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.680 Å, b = 3.6537 Å, c = 11.023 Å
β = 105.00°
β = 105.00°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.197 : 1 : 3.017
Unit Cell V:
454.38 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Crystals rare, platy and rectangular. Fibrous, cryptocrystalline, porous masses.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005363 | Fernandinite | Evans H T, Post J E, Ross D R, Nelen J A (1994) The crystal structure and crystal chemistry of fernandinite and corvusite Minasragu, Peru, with general formula (Ca,Na,K)x(V,Fe,Ti)8O20.4H2O The Canadian Mineralogist 32 339-351 | ![]() | 1994 | Minasragu, Peru | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
10.68 Å | (100) |
5.65 Å | (10) |
3.545 Å | (4) |
3.483 Å | (26) |
2.826 Å | (7) |
2.549 Å | (4) |
1.949 Å | (6) |
1.836 Å | (8) |
Comments:
Very similar to the data for corvusite.
Type Occurrence of Fernandinite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: #101718. U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #87661, R5706.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A rich vanadium deposit in fissures that cut red shales
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Schaller, W.T. (1915) Four new minerals. Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 5: 7-7.
Other Language Names for Fernandinite
Relationship of Fernandinite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Bariandite | Al0.6(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 9H2O | Mon. |
Bokite | (Al,Fe3+)1.3(V5+,V4+,Fe3+)8O20 · 7.4H2O | Mon. |
Corvusite | (Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 6-10H2O | Mon. |
Straczekite | (Ca,K,Ba)(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 3H2O | Mon. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Fernandinite associated with Pintadoite | Ca2(V2O7) · 9H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.HE.05 | Melanovanadite | Ca(V5+,V4+)4O10 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
4.HE.10 | Shcherbinaite | V5+2O5 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pmmn |
4.HE.15 | Hewettite | CaV6O16 · 9H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
4.HE.15 | Metahewettite | CaV6O16 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m |
4.HE.20 | Bariandite | Al0.6(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 9H2O | Mon. |
4.HE.20 | Bokite | (Al,Fe3+)1.3(V5+,V4+,Fe3+)8O20 · 7.4H2O | Mon. |
4.HE.20 | Corvusite | (Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 6-10H2O | Mon. |
4.HE.20 | Straczekite | (Ca,K,Ba)(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 3H2O | Mon. |
4.HE.25 | Häggite | V3+V4+O2(OH)3 | Mon. |
4.HE.30 | Doloresite | V4+3O4(OH)4 | Mon. 2/m |
4.HE.35 | Duttonite | V4+O(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m |
4.HE.40 | Cavoite | CaV4+3O7 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
47.3.2.1 | Straczekite | (Ca,K,Ba)(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 3H2O | Mon. |
47.3.2.2 | Corvusite | (Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 6-10H2O | Mon. |
47.3.2.4 | Bariandite | Al0.6(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 9H2O | Mon. |
47.3.2.5 | Bokite | (Al,Fe3+)1.3(V5+,V4+,Fe3+)8O20 · 7.4H2O | Mon. |
47.3.2.6 | Kazakhstanite | Fe3+5V4+3V5+12O39(OH)9 · 9H2O | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
21.2.1 | Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
21.2.2 | Rossite | Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
21.2.3 | Metahewettite | CaV6O16 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m |
21.2.4 | Hewettite | CaV6O16 · 9H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
21.2.5 | Pintadoite | Ca2(V2O7) · 9H2O | |
21.2.6 | Hendersonite | (Ca,Sr)1.3V6O16 · 6H2O | Orth. |
21.2.8 | Pascoite | Ca3(V10O28) · 17H2O | Mon. 2 : B2 |
21.2.9 | Sherwoodite | Ca4.5(AlV4+2V5+12O40) · 28H2O | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : I41/amd |
21.2.10 | Melanovanadite | Ca(V5+,V4+)4O10 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
21.2.11 | Grantsite | (Na,Ca)2+x(V5+,V4+)6O16 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
21.2.12 | Hummerite | K2Mg2(V10O28) · 16H2O | Tric. |
21.2.13 | Metadelrioite | CaSr(V2O6)(OH)2 | Tric. |
21.2.14 | Delrioite | CaSr(V2O6)(OH)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
21.2.15 | Straczekite | (Ca,K,Ba)(V5+,V4+)8O20 · 3H2O | Mon. |
21.2.16 | Gamagarite | Ba2Fe3+(VO4)2(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
Fluorescence of Fernandinite
Not fluorescent in UV
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in acids to a green solution.
Somewhat soluble in cold H2O, yielding a yellow solution.
Somewhat soluble in cold H2O, yielding a yellow solution.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Fernandinite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Schaller, W.T. (1915) Four new minerals. Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 5: 7-7.
Dana, E.S. (1915) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York. App. 3, by W.E. Ford: 29 (Schaller in).
Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 74.
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.: 1062.
Bayliss, P., Freeman, K.J. (1989) Mineral nomenclature: fernandinite. Mineralogical Magazine: 53: 511-511.
Evans, Jr., H.T., and Hughes, J.M. (1990) Crystal chemistry of the natural vanadium bronzes. American Mineralogist: 75: 508-521.
Jambor, J.L., Puziewicz, J. (1990) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 75: 1209-1216.
Evans, H.T., Jr., J.E. Post, D.R. Ross, and J.A. Nelen (1994) The crystal structure and crystal chemistry of fernandinite and corvusite. Canadian Mineralogist: 32: 339-351.
Jambor, J.L., Puziewicz, J., Roberts, A.C. (1995) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 80: 404-409.
Internet Links for Fernandinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1483.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Fernandinite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Peru (TL) | |
| Schaller, W.T. (1915) Four new minerals. Journal of the Washington Academy of Science: 5: 7-7.; 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: 1062.; Bayliss, P., Freeman, K.J. (1989) Mineral nomenclature: fernandinite. Mineralogical Magazine: 53: 511-511.; Evans, Jr., H.T., and Hughes, J.M. (1990) Crystal chemistry of the natural vanadium bronzes. American Mineralogist: 75: 508-521. |
USA | |
| Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 220; Witkind, I.J. & R.E. Thaden (1963), Geology and uranium-vanadium deposits of the Monument Valley area, Apache and Navajo Cos., AZ: 115; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 79. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. |
| Min News (1987) 3:9 p 5-6 |
| Excalibur Mineral Co. sample and analysis |
| UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah |
| Van King |
Quick NavTopAbout FernandiniteClassification Physical Properties Optical Data Chemical Properties Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesNickel-StrunzDanaHey's CIMFluorescence Other InformationReferences Internet Links Localities Locality List
Sunday Mine, Slick Rock Mining District, San Miguel Co., Colorado, USA