Vanadinite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Vanadinite
Formula:
Pb5(VO4)3Cl
Colour:
Orange-red, red-brown, brown, bright red, yellow, whitish; pale straw-yellow; colourless or weakly tinted in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Resinous
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
6.88
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Member of:
Name:
The name reflects its vanadium content.
Type Locality:
Isostructural with:
Apatite Group. Apatite Supergroup. The vanadate analogue of Mimetite and Pyromorphite. Forms a solid solution series toward Mimetite (in nature up to approximately V:As = 1:1 - Mimetite-Vanadinite Series) and a complete series with Pyromorphite. Baker (1966) showed by synthesis that there is a complete solid-solution series between mimetite, pyromorphite and vanadinite.
Vanadinite is a secondary lead chlorovanadate. It is chemically related to otherwise much more structurally complex but chemically similar to erikjonssonite, hereroite, janchevite, and kombatite. It is almost always found in the oxidation zone of lead deposits in arid climates resulting from the alteration of vanadium-bearing sulphides and silicates of the gangue and wall rocks.
First discovered by Señor A.M. del Rio (1764-1849), Professor, School of Mines of Mexico, Zimapan, before the element vanadium was discovered in 1830.
Vanadinite is a secondary lead chlorovanadate. It is chemically related to otherwise much more structurally complex but chemically similar to erikjonssonite, hereroite, janchevite, and kombatite. It is almost always found in the oxidation zone of lead deposits in arid climates resulting from the alteration of vanadium-bearing sulphides and silicates of the gangue and wall rocks.
First discovered by Señor A.M. del Rio (1764-1849), Professor, School of Mines of Mexico, Zimapan, before the element vanadium was discovered in 1830.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4139
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4139:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
60d56ba1-8b4c-41f9-bf4f-acc1f83e1ea4
IMA Classification of Vanadinite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Vanadinite
8.BN.05
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H2O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 0.33:1
41.8.4.3
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : A5(XO4)3Zq
41 : ANHYDROUS PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
8 : A5(XO4)3Zq
22.2.14
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
22 : Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other Anions
2 : Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with chloride
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Vna | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Vanadinite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Vanadinite
Sub-Adamantine, Resinous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Orange-red, red-brown, brown, bright red, yellow, whitish; pale straw-yellow; colourless or weakly tinted in transmitted light.
Comment:
May exhibit zoned colouration due to varying composition.
Streak:
White to pale yellow and light brownish yellow
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
6.88 g/cm3 (Measured) 6.95 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Density decreases with the substitution of Ca for Pb; reported values range between ~6.5 to 7.1.
Optical Data of Vanadinite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 2.416 nε = 2.350
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.066
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
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Visible in tinted material in transmitted light.
Chemistry of Vanadinite
Mindat Formula:
Pb5(VO4)3Cl
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
P,As,Ca
Crystallography of Vanadinite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
P63/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.3174 Å, c = 7.3378 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 0.711
Unit Cell V:
676.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Well developed hexagonal prisms [0001]; the prisms range from tabular to acanthine, and may be terminated by pinacoids or less commonly hexagonal bipyramids. Usually with smooth faces and sharp edges; sometimes cavernous, also acicular, hairlike, fibrous, rounded, globular, skeletalized.
Crystals may exhibit concentric zones of varying composition.
Crystals may exhibit concentric zones of varying composition.
Crystallographic forms of Vanadinite
Crystal Atlas:
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0020248 | Vanadinite | Okudera H (2013) Relationships among channel typology and atomic displacements in the structures of Pb5(BO4)3Cl with B = P (pyromorphite), V (vanadinite), and As (mimetite) American Mineralogist 98 1573-1579 | 2013 | Mibladen, Morocco | 0 | 293 | |
0020249 | Vanadinite | Okudera H (2013) Relationships among channel typology and atomic displacements in the structures of Pb5(BO4)3Cl with B = P (pyromorphite), V (vanadinite), and As (mimetite) American Mineralogist 98 1573-1579 | 2013 | Mibladen, Morocco | 0 | 293 | |
0005076 | Vanadinite | Trotter J, Barnes W H (1958) The structure of vanadinite The Canadian Mineralogist 6 161-173 | 1958 | 0 | 293 | ||
0005225 | Vanadinite | Dai Y S, Hughes J M (1989) Crystal-structure refinements of vanadinite and pyromorphite The Canadian Mineralogist 27 189-192 | 1989 | 0 | 293 | ||
0018027 | Vanadinite | Hendricks S, Jefferson M, Mosley V (1932) The Crystal Structures of Some Natural and Synthetic Apatite-Like Substances _cod_database_code 1011138 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 81 352-369 | 1932 | 0 | 293 | ||
0014110 | Vanadinite | Laufek F, Skala R, Haloda J, Cisarova I (2006) Crystal structure of vanadinite: refinement of anisotropic displacement parameters Journal of the Czech Geological Society 51 271-275 | 2006 | Mibladen, Morocco | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
2.987 Å | (100) |
2.995 Å | (92) |
3.069 Å | (89) |
3.380 Å | (41) |
4.470 Å | (35) |
3.397 Å | (30) |
4.224 Å | (27) |
Comments:
Synthetic. Data from Baker (1966).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Geological Setting:
A secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of lead bearing deposits.
Type Occurrence of Vanadinite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Synonyms of Vanadinite
Other Language Names for Vanadinite
Arabic:فانادينيت
Basque:Banadinita
Catalan:Vanadinita
Dutch:Vanadiniet
Galician:Vanadinita
Italian:Vanadinite
Lithuanian:Vanadinitas
Polish:Wanadynit
Portuguese:Vanadinite
Romanian:Vanadinit
Russian:Ванадинит
Serbian:Ванадинит
Simplified Chinese:钒铅矿
Spanish:Vanadinita
Plomo pardo
Plomo pardo
Ukrainian:Ванадиніт
Varieties of Vanadinite
Arsenic-bearing Vanadinite | Apatite Supergroup , Pyromorphite Subgroup. A variety of Vanadinite containing arsenic in substitution for V up to As:V = 1:1, an intermediate between Vanadinite and Mimetite in composition (Mimetite-Vanadinite Series). Originally reported from Hillsbor... |
Copper-bearing Vanadinite |
Relationship of Vanadinite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Alforsite | Ba5(PO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Apatite | Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH) | |
Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Fluoralforsite | Ba5(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P6/m |
Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Fluorpyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Hydroxylpyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3(OH) | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mcm |
Johnbaumite | Ca5(AsO4)3(OH) | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Oxypyromorphite | Pb10(PO4)6O | |
Pieczkaite | Mn5(PO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Pliniusite | Ca5(VO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Stronadelphite | Sr5(PO4)3F | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Svabite | Ca5(AsO4)3F | Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc |
Turneaureite | Ca5(AsO4)3Cl | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Unnamed (OH-analogue of Mimetite) | Pb5(AsO4)3(OH) | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
994 photos of Vanadinite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
501 photos of Vanadinite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
372 photos of Vanadinite associated with Descloizite | PbZn(VO4)(OH) |
221 photos of Vanadinite associated with Goethite | α-Fe3+O(OH) |
192 photos of Vanadinite associated with Wulfenite | Pb(MoO4) |
178 photos of Vanadinite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
178 photos of Vanadinite associated with Mottramite | PbCu(VO4)(OH) |
79 photos of Vanadinite associated with Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
67 photos of Vanadinite associated with Manganese Oxides | |
57 photos of Vanadinite associated with Phosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3Cl |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.BN. | Aradite | BaCa6[(SiO4)(VO4)](VO4)2F |
8.BN. | Magganasite | CuFe3+3O(AsO4)3 |
8.BN. | Fluorpyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3F |
8.BN. | Fluorsigaiite | Ca2Sr3(PO4)3F |
8.BN. | Fluoralforsite | Ba5(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Alforsite | Ba5(PO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Belovite-(Ce) | NaCeSr3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Chlorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Mimetite-M | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Johnbaumite-M | Ca5(AsO4)3OH |
8.BN.05 | Fluorapatite | Ca5(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Hedyphane | Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Hydroxylapatite | Ca5(PO4)3(OH) |
8.BN.05 | Johnbaumite | Ca5(AsO4)3(OH) |
8.BN.05 | Mimetite | Pb5(AsO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Morelandite | Ca2Ba3(AsO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Oxypyromorphite | Pb10(PO4)6O |
8.BN.05 | Pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Fluorstrophite | SrCaSr3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Svabite | Ca5(AsO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Turneaureite | Ca5(AsO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Belovite-(La) | NaLaSr3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Deloneite | (Na0.5REE0.25Ca0.25)(Ca0.75REE0.25)Sr1.5(CaNa0.25REE0.25)(PO4)3F0.5(OH)0.5 |
8.BN.05 | Fluorcaphite | SrCaCa3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 va | Germanate-pyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)2GeO4 |
8.BN.05 | Kuannersuite-(Ce) | NaCeBa3(PO4)3F0.5Cl0.5 |
8.BN.05 | Hydroxylapatite-M | Ca5(PO4)3OH |
8.BN.05 | Phosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Hydroxylpyromorphite | Pb5(PO4)3(OH) |
8.BN.05 | Stronadelphite | Sr5(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Fluorphosphohedyphane | Ca2Pb3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Carlgieseckeite-(Nd) | NaNdCa3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Vanackerite | Pb4Cd(AsO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Miyahisaite | (Sr,Ca)2Ba3(PO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Unnamed (OH-analogue of Mimetite) | Pb5(AsO4)3(OH) |
8.BN.05 | Pieczkaite | Mn5(PO4)3Cl |
8.BN.05 | Hydroxylhedyphane | Ca2Pb3(AsO4)3(OH) |
8.BN.05 | Pliniusite | Ca5(VO4)3F |
8.BN.05 | Parafiniukite | Ca2Mn3(PO4)3Cl |
8.BN.10 | Arctite | Na2Ca4(PO4)3F |
8.BN.15 | Goryainovite | Ca2(PO4)Cl |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated in a closed tube, decrepitates and gives a faint white sublimate. Before the blowpipe fuses easily.
Notes:
Readily soluble in HNO3 to a yellow solution; soluble in HCl to a green solution with the deposition of lead chloride.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Vanadinite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4139.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Vanadinite
Reference List:
Bowman, H. L. (1903) Note on the Refrative Indices of Pyromorphite, Mimetite, and Vanadinite. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 13 (62) 324-329 doi:10.1180/minmag.1903.013.62.04
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.71
Kingsbury, Arthur W. G., Hartley, J. (1956) New occurrences of vanadium minerals (mottramite, descloizite, and vanadinite) in the Caldbeck area of Cumberland. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 31 (235) 289-295 doi:10.1180/minmag.1956.031.235.02
Trotter, J., Barnes, W.H. (1958) The structure of vanadinite. The Canadian Mineralogist: 6: 161-173.
Baker, W. E. (1966) An x-ray diffraction study of synthetic members of the pyromorphite series. American Mineralogist, 51 (11-12) 1712-1721
Dai, Y., Hughes, J. M. (1989) Crystal-structure refinements of vanadinite and pyromorphite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 27 (2) 189-192
Shannon, Robert D., Shannon, Ruth C., Medenbach, Olaf, Fischer, Reinhard X. (2002) Refractive Index and Dispersion of Fluorides and Oxides. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, 31 (4) 931-970 doi:10.1063/1.1497384
Frost, Ray L., Crane, Martin, Williams, Peter A., Theo Kloprogge, J. (2003) Isomorphic substitution in vanadinite [Pb5(VO4)3Cl]?a Raman spectroscopic study. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 34 (3). 214-220 doi:10.1002/jrs.978
Localities for Vanadinite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Apache Mine, Radium, Burch area, Globe Hills Mining District, Globe-Miami Mining District, Gila County, Arizona, USA