Vauxite
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About Vauxite
Formula:
Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O
Colour:
Sky-blue, dark blue; pale blue in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3½
Specific Gravity:
2.39 - 2.4
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honor of George Vaux, Jr. (18 December 1863, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA - 24 October 1927, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA), attorney, photographer, and mineral collector of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He was nephew of mineral collector William S. Vaux (1811-1882). His collection, that reached about 10,000 specimens of 850 species, went to Bryn Mawr College after his death.
A secondary mineral derived from the alteration of apatite.
Compare also the higher hydrate paravauxite and its dimorph metavauxite.
Ferrivauxite is an oxidized equivalent of vauxite.
Compare also the higher hydrate paravauxite and its dimorph metavauxite.
Ferrivauxite is an oxidized equivalent of vauxite.
Classification of Vauxite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1922
7/D.09-10
8.DC.35
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
42.11.14.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
11 : (AB)3(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
19.14.23
19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
19 : Phosphates
14 : Phosphates of Fe and other metals
Physical Properties of Vauxite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Sky-blue, dark blue; pale blue in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
2.39 - 2.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.4 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vauxite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.551 nβ = 1.555 nγ = 1.562
2V:
Measured: 32°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.011

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:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v weak
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
X = Z = Colourless
Y = Blue
Y = Blue
Chemical Properties of Vauxite
Formula:
Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O
Crystallography of Vauxite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.142 Å, b = 11.599 Å, c = 6.158 Å
α = 98.29°, β = 91.93°, γ = 108.27°
α = 98.29°, β = 91.93°, γ = 108.27°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.788 : 1 : 0.531
Unit Cell V:
611.42 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals tabular {010}, elongated [001] or [101]. May exhibit may forms, including {010}, {110}, {111}, {101}, {111}, {101}, and {140}. Forms radial to subparallel aggregates; nodular.
Twinning:
on {010}, twin and composition plane.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0000176 | Vauxite | Baur W H, Rama Rao B (1968) The crystal structure and the chemical composition of vauxite American Mineralogist 53 1025-1033 | ![]() | 1968 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
Alteration of apatite.
Type Occurrence of Vauxite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #97561, #103542.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Hydrothermal tin veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Vauxite
Common Associates
Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O |
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
569 photos of Vauxite associated with Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
323 photos of Vauxite associated with Childrenite | Fe2+Al(PO4)(OH)2 · H2O |
150 photos of Vauxite associated with Metavauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
81 photos of Vauxite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
75 photos of Vauxite associated with Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O |
58 photos of Vauxite associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O |
27 photos of Vauxite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
20 photos of Vauxite associated with Franckeite | Fe2+(Pb,Sn2+)6Sn4+2Sb2S14 |
8 photos of Vauxite associated with Greenockite | CdS |
5 photos of Vauxite associated with Römerite | Fe2+Fe3+2(SO4)4 · 14H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.DC. | Césarferreiraite | Fe2+ Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.05 | Nissonite | Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 5H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.07 | Euchroite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2O | Orth. 2 2 2 : P21 21 21 |
8.DC.10 | Legrandite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.12 | Strashimirite | Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4 · 5H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.15 | Arthurite | CuFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.15 | Earlshannonite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.15 | Ojuelaite | ZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.15 | Whitmoreite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.15 | Cobaltarthurite | (Co,Mg)Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.15 | Bendadaite | Fe2+Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.15 | Kunatite | CuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.15 | UM2006-27-PO:FeHZn | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.15 | UKI-2006-(PO:AlCuFeH) | Fe2+Al3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | |
8.DC.17 | Kleemanite | ZnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.20 | Bermanite | Mn2+Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
8.DC.20 | Coralloite | Mn2+Mn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.22 | Kovdorskite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) · 3H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.25 | Ferristrunzite | Fe3+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.25 | Ferrostrunzite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.25 | Metavauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.25 | Metavivianite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.25 | Strunzite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.27 | Beraunite | Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.DC.30 | Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Laueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Mangangordonite | Mn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.30 | Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Pseudolaueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
8.DC.30 | Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.30 | Stewartite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Ushkovite | MgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.30 | Ferrolaueite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Kastningite | (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Maghrebite | MgAl2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.30 | Nordgauite | MnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2 · 5H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.32 | Tinticite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.37 | Vantasselite | Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 9H2O | Orth. |
8.DC.40 | Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
8.DC.45 | Gormanite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.45 | Souzalite | (Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.47 | Kingite | Al3(PO4)2F2(OH) · 7H2O | Tric. |
8.DC.50 | Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
8.DC.50 | Allanpringite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
8.DC.52 | Kribergite | Al5(PO4)3(SO4)(OH)4 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.DC.55 | Mapimite | Zn2Fe3+3(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 10H2O | Mon. |
8.DC.57 | Ogdensburgite | Ca2Fe3+4(Zn,Mn2+)(AsO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmmm |
8.DC.60 | Nevadaite | (Cu2+,Al,V3+)6Al8(PO4)8F8(OH)2 · 22H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
8.DC.60 | Cloncurryite | Cu0.5(VO)0.5Al2(PO4)2F2 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
42.11.14.2 | Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
42.11.14.3 | Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O | Tric. |
42.11.14.4 | Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
42.11.14.5 | Mangangordonite | Mn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
19.14.1 | Cyrilovite | NaFe3+3(PO4)2(OH)4 · 2H2O | Tet. 4 2 2 : P41 21 2 |
19.14.2 | Kidwellite | NaFe3+9+x(PO4)6(OH)11 · 3H2O, x = 0.33 | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
19.14.3 | Rosemaryite | (Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe2+)(Fe3+,Mg)Al(PO4)3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.14.4 | Wyllieite | (Na,Ca,Mn)(Mn,Fe)(Fe,Mg)Al(PO4)3 | Mon. 2/m |
19.14.5 | Ferrowyllieite | (Na,Ca,Mn)(Fe,Mn)(Fe,Fe,Mg)Al(PO4)3 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.14.6 | Natrodufrénite | NaFe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O | Mon. |
19.14.7 | Leucophosphite | KFe3+2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.14.8 | Spheniscidite | (NH4,K)(Fe3+,Al)2(PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O | Mon. |
19.14.9 | Burangaite | NaFe2+Al5(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
19.14.10 | Satterlyite | (Fe2+,Mg,Fe)12(PO4)5(PO3OH)(OH,O)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1m |
19.14.11 | Ushkovite | MgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. |
19.14.12 | Garyansellite | (Mg,Fe)3(PO4)2(OH,O) · 1.5H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
19.14.13 | Thadeuite | Ca(Mg,Fe2+)3(PO4)2(OH,F)2 | Orth. 2 2 2 : C2 2 21 |
19.14.14 | Anapaite | Ca2Fe2+(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.14.15 | Xanthoxenite | Ca4Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.14.16 | Calcioferrite | Ca2Fe3+2(PO4)3(OH) · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
19.14.17 | Mitridatite | Ca2Fe3+3(PO4)3O2 · 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
19.14.18 | Mélonjosephite | CaFe2+Fe3+(PO4)2(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbam |
19.14.19 | Delvauxite | CaFe4(PO4,SO4)2(OH)8 · 4-6H2O not confirmed | Amor. |
19.14.20 | Collinsite | Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.14.21 | Segelerite | Ca2 Mg2 Fe3+2(PO4)4(OH)2 · 8H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pcca |
19.14.22 | Kingsmountite | Ca3MnFeAl4(PO4)6(OH)4 · 12H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.14.24 | Metavauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.14.25 | Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
19.14.26 | Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O | Tric. |
19.14.27 | Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O | Hex. 6/m : P63/m |
19.14.28 | Koninckite | Fe3+PO4 · 3H2O | Tet. |
19.14.29 | Lazulite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.14.30 | Scorzalite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
19.14.31 | Souzalite | (Mg,Fe2+)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O | Tric. |
19.14.32 | Gormanite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O | Tric. |
19.14.33 | Zaïrite | BiFe3+3(PO4)2(OH)6 | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
Other Information
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 Vauxite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Gordon, S.G. (1922) Preliminary notes on vauxite and paravauxite. Science: 56: 50-50.
Newhouse, W.H. (1922) Notes and News. American Mineralogist: 7: 108-109.
Gordon (1923) Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia: 75: 261.
Gordon (1944) Proceedings of the Academy of Sciences, Philadelphia: 96: 344.
Fleischer, M. (1945) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 30: 548-550.
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.: 974-975.
Baur, W.H. and B. Rama Rao (1968) The crystal structure and the chemical composition of vauxite. American Mineralogist (1968): 53: 1025-1028.
Moore, P.B., Araki, T., Kampf, A.R., Steele, I.M. (1976) Olmsteadite, K2Fe2+2[Fe2+2(Nb,Ta)5+2O4(H2O)4(PO4)4], a new species, its crystal structure and relation to vauxite and montgomeryite. American Mineralogist: 61: 5-11.
Blanchard, F.N. and S.A. Abernathy (1980) X-ray powder diffraction data for phosphate minerals: vauxite, metavauxite, vivianite, Mn-heterosite, scorzalite, and lazulite. Florida Scientist, 43, 257–265.
Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 625.
Djordjević, T., Kolitsch, U. and Stojanovic, J. (2011) Crystal structure and hydrogen bonding in vauxite, Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2•6H2O from Vitlovac locality, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Joint Meeting of the DGK, DMG and ÖMG, Salzburg, Austria, September 20-24, 2011; Abstracts Volume, p. 136.
Ventruti, G., Schingaro, E., Monno, A., Lacalamita, M., Della Ventura, G., Bellatreccia, F., Cuocci, C., Rossi, M., Capitelli, F. (2016) Structure refinement and vibrational spectroscopy of vauxite from the type locality, Llallagua (Bolivia). Canadian Mineralogist: 54: 163-176.
Van Alboom, A., da Costa, G.M., De Grave, E. (2018) Deficiency of water molecules in the crystallographic structure of vauxite. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 45: 249-257.
Internet Links for Vauxite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4164.html
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Localities for Vauxite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Dina, H. (1993). Hentschelita en Cerro Blanco, Tanti, Córdoba. Informacion Tecnologica, 48(3-4), 277-282. |
Bolivia | |
| Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 625 (probably erroneous) |
Kempff, O., Paar, W.H., Tawackoli, S.: "Minerales de Bolivia", 115pp (La Paz, 2009) | |
| Gordon, S. G. (1922). Preliminary Notes on Vauxite and Paravauxite. Science, 50. |
American Mineralogist (1922) 7, 107-108. | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | |
| T. Djordjević, U. Kolitsch and J. Stojanovic (2011): Crystal structure and hydrogen bonding in vauxite, Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2•6H2O from Vitlovac locality, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Joint Meeting of the DGK, DMG and ÖMG, Salzburg, Austria, September 20-24, 2011; Abstracts Volume, p. 136.; Radosavljević, S., Đorđević, D., Stojanović, J., Radosavljević-Mihajlović, A., & Kašić, V. (2014). Srebrenica Orefield, Podrinje Metallogenic District, Republic of Srpska, B&h: Hydrated Fe (Al)-phosphates and Their Parageneses Within the Pb-Zn Mineralization. Архив за техничке науке, 1(11), 1-6. |
Canada | |
| Battler, M. M., Osinski, G. R., Lim, D. S., Davila, A. F., Michel, F. A., Craig, M. A., ... & Preston, L. J. (2013). Characterization of the acidic cold seep emplaced jarositic Golden Deposit, NWT, Canada, as an analogue for jarosite deposition on Mars. Icarus, 224(2), 382-398. |
Germany | |
| Harald G. Dill and Radek Skoda (2015) The new Nb–P aplite at Reinhardsrieth: A keystone in the lateral and depth zonations of the Hagendorf–Pleystein Pegmatite Field, SE Germany. Ore Geology Reviews 70:208–227. |
Italy | |
| Stara, P., Tanca, G., Rizzo, R. and Ibba, A. (1996) Cacoxenite, wavellite ed altri fosfati in Sardegna. Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 20, 4 (4-1996), 321-323. |
Spain | |
| Bauluz, B., Gasca, J. M., Moreno‐Azanza, M., & Canudo, J. I. (2014). Unusual replacement of biogenic apatite by aluminium phosphate phases in dinosaur teeth from the Early Cretaceous of Spain. Lethaia, 47(4), 556-566. |
USA | |
| K. Cabaniss & L.E. Kearns (2011) The 38th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, April 14-17, 2011, lecture abstracts, page 13. |
Siglo Veinte Mine, Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo, Potosí, Bolivia