Villyaellenite
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Villyaellenite
Formula:
MnMn2Ca2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O
Colour:
Colorless, orange to light pink
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
3.20
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named by H. Sarp in 1984 after Villy Aellen, (1926, Neuchâtel, Switzerland - 2000), zoologist and former Director of the Natural History Museum of Geneva (Switzerland).
Isostructural with:
Compare giftgrubeite, the ordered (Ca:Mn = 3:2) intermediate member between villyaellenite and sainfeldite.
See also the closely related miguelromeroite. Note: The miguelromeroite samples from the Veta Negra mine, Chile, were originally labeled "villyaellenite".
See also the closely related miguelromeroite. Note: The miguelromeroite samples from the Veta Negra mine, Chile, were originally labeled "villyaellenite".
Classification of Villyaellenite
Approved
Approval year:
1983
First published:
1984
7/C.04-30
8.CB.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
39.2.1.3
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : (AB)5[HXO4]2[XO4]2.xH2O
39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : (AB)5[HXO4]2[XO4]2.xH2O
20.8.20
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of Mn
20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of Mn
Physical Properties of Villyaellenite
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, orange to light pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{100} good
{100} good
Density:
3.20 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.24 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
D as high as 3.72, Am Min (1988): 73:1172
Optical Data of Villyaellenite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.660 - 1.713 nβ = 1.670 - 1.723 nγ = 1.676 - 1.729
2V:
Measured: 70.5° to 76°, Calculated: 75° to 75.6°
Birefringence:
0.016
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.016

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:
High
Dispersion:
weak
Optical Extinction:
Y ^ c = 30°-40°.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X=very pale orange pink, Y=exceedingly pale pink, Z=pale orange pink; Z>>X>Y.
Comments:
Higher optics may represent closeness to end-member.
Chemical Properties of Villyaellenite
Formula:
MnMn2Ca2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O
IMA Formula:
(Mn,Ca)Mn2Ca2(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2 · 4H2O
Common Impurities:
Zn,Ca,Fe
Crystallography of Villyaellenite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.55 Å, b = 9.50 Å, c = 9.99 Å
β = 96.94°
β = 96.94°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.953 : 1 : 1.052
Unit Cell V:
1,747.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Rosettes of prismatic crystals, elongated || [001], tabular || {100}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
8.21 Å | (50) |
4.45 Å | (30) |
3.24 Å | (50) |
3.21 Å | (100) |
3.13 Å | (30) |
3.06 Å | (70) |
2.98 Å | (40) |
2.34 Å | (30) |
Comments:
ICDD 41-1455, also 37-444.
Type Occurrence of Villyaellenite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Sarp, H. (1984) Villyaellenite, H2(Mn,Ca)5(AsO4)4·4H2O un nouveau minéral de Saint-Marie aux Mines (France). Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 64: 323-328.
Synonyms of Villyaellenite
Other Language Names for Villyaellenite
Relationship of Villyaellenite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Chongite | Ca3Mg2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Giftgrubeite | CaMn2Ca2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Miguelromeroite | MnMn2Mn2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Nyholmite | Cd3Zn2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
8.CB.05 | Serrabrancaite | MnPO4 · H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.CB.10 | Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.CB.10 | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.CB.10 | UM1997-09-AsO:CaHMgZn | (Mg,Ca,Zn)5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.CB.10 | Nyholmite | Cd3Zn2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.CB.10 | Miguelromeroite | MnMn2Mn2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
8.CB.15 | Fluckite | CaMn2+(AsO3OH)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CB.15 | Krautite | Mn(HAsO4) · H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
8.CB.20 | Cobaltkoritnigite | (Co,Zn)(HAsO4) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CB.20 | Koritnigite | Zn(HAsO4) · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
8.CB.25 | Yvonite | Cu(HAsO4) · 2H2O | Tric. |
8.CB.30 | Geminite | Cu2+(AsO3OH) · H2O | Tric. |
8.CB.35 | Schubnelite | Fe3+VO4 · H2O | Tric. |
8.CB.40 | Radovanite | Cu2Fe3+(AsO4)(HAs3+O3)2 · H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
8.CB.45 | Kazakhstanite | Fe3+5V4+3V5+12O39(OH)9 · 9H2O | Mon. |
8.CB.50 | Kolovratite | NixZny(VO4)0.67(x+y) · nH2O | |
8.CB.55 | Irhtemite | Ca4Mg(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
8.CB.60 | Burgessite | Co2(H2O)4[AsO3(OH)]2(H2O) | Mon. 2/m |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
39.2.1.1 | Hureaulite | Mn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
39.2.1.2 | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
39.2.1.4 | UM1997-09-AsO:CaHMgZn | (Mg,Ca,Zn)5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
39.2.1.4 | Miguelromeroite | MnMn2Mn2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
39.2.1.6 | Nyholmite | Cd3Zn2(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
20.8.1 | Sarkinite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.8.2 | Eveite | Mn2+2(AsO4)(OH) | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnnm |
20.8.3 | Arsenoclasite | Mn2+5(AsO4)2(OH)4 | Orth. |
20.8.4 | Flinkite | Mn2+2Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)4 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
20.8.5 | Jarosewichite | Mn2+3Mn3+(AsO4)(OH)6 | Orth. 2 2 2 |
20.8.6 | Allactite | Mn2+7(AsO4)2(OH)8 | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.8.7 | Krautite | Mn(HAsO4) · H2O | Mon. 2 : P21 |
20.8.8 | Synadelphite | Mn2+9(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)9 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
20.8.9 | Sterlinghillite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 3H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
20.8.10 | Geigerite | Mn2+5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O | Tric. |
20.8.11 | Akrochordite | (Mn2+,Mg)5(AsO4)2(OH)4 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.8.12 | Manganohörnesite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
20.8.13 | Fluckite | CaMn2+(AsO3OH)2 · 2H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
20.8.14 | Brandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
20.8.15 | Parabrandtite | Ca2Mn2+(AsO4)2 · 2H2O | Tric. |
20.8.16 | Wallkilldellite | Ca2Mn2+3(AsO4)2(OH)4 · 9H2O | Hex. |
20.8.17 | Berzeliite | (NaCa2)Mg2(AsO4)3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
20.8.18 | Manganberzeliite | (NaCa2)Mn2+2(AsO4)3 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Ia3d |
20.8.19 | Magnesiochlorophoenicite | (Mg,Mn)3Zn2(AsO4)(OH,O)6 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
20.8.21 | Hematolite | (Mn,Mg,Al,Fe3+)15(As5+O4)2(As3+O3)(OH)23 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
20.8.22 | Grischunite | NaCa2Mn2+5Fe3+(AsO4)6 · 2H2O | Orth. |
Fluorescence of Villyaellenite
Not fluorescent.
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 Villyaellenite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Sarp, H. (1984) Villyaellenite, H2(Mn,Ca)5(AsO4)4·4H2O un nouveau minéral de Saint-Marie aux Mines (France). Schweizerische Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 64: 323-328.
Hawthorne, F.C., Bladh, K.W., Burke, E.A.J., Ercit, S., Grew, E.S., Grice, J.D., Puziewicz, J., Roberts, A.C., Schedler, R.A., Shigley, J.E. (1986) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 71: 1543-1548.
Kampf, A.R., Ross, C.R. II (1988) End-member villyaellenite from Mapimi, Durango, Mexico: descriptive mineralogy, crystal structure, and implications for the ordering of Mn and Ca in type villyaellenite. American Mineralogist: 73: 1172-1178.
Roth, P. (2007) Villyaellenite. in Minerals first discovered in Switzerland and minerals named after Swiss individuals. Kristallografik Verlag (Achberg Germany) 202-203.
Kampf, A.R. (2009) Miguelromeroite, the Mn analogue of sainfeldite, and redefinition of villyaellenite as an ordered intermediate in the sainfeldite-miguelromeroite series. American Mineralogist: 94: 1535-1540.
Internet Links for Villyaellenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4182.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Villyaellenite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile | |
| Kampf, A. R. (2009). Miguelromeroite, the Mn analogue of sainfeldite, and redefinition of villyaellenite as an ordered intermediate in the sainfeldite-miguelromeroite series. American Mineralogist, 94(11-12), 1535-1540. |
Czech Republic | |
| Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65 |
France (TL) | |
| Sarp (1984); Am.Min.: 71 (1986): 1547 (abst.); 73 (1988):1172. |
P&T N°23-24, H. BARI 1982, Minéralogie des filons du Neuenberg à Sainte Marie aux Mines (Haut-Rhin). | |
| Bari, H. (1982) Minéralogie des filons du Neuenberg à Sainte Marie-aux-Mines (Haut-Rhin). Pierres et Terre: 23-24. |
Italy | |
| Campostrini, I., Demartin, F., Martini, B., Salvetti, A., Dalla Fontana, G., Boscardin, M., Ambrino, P., Ciriotti, M.E. (2014): Villyaellenite dalle gallerie inferiori di Biò, Borgofranco d’Ivrea (Torino), Piemonte. GMT 2014 Giornate Mineralogiche di Tavagnasco, 6-8 giugno 2014. Plinius, 40, 170. |
Japan | |
| Matsubara, S., Kato, A., Shimizu, M., Sekiuchi, K., and Suzuki, M. (1996) Romeite from the Gozaisho mine, Iwaki, Japan. Mineralogical Journal 18, 155-160. |
Mexico | |
| Mineralogical Record (2003) 34:5 The Ojuela Mine; American Mineralogist, Volume 73, pages 1172-1 178, 1988 |
Thomas P. Moore (2008) Lapis, 33, #7-8, 33-40. | |
Romania | |
| Ghergari, L., Forray, F., Gál, Á., Fărcaş, T. (1994) Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai, Geologia: 39(1): 127-140. |
USA | |
| Kampf, A.R. & Ross, C.R., II: Am.Min.:73:1172-1178 (1988); Dunn(1995):Pt5:684. |
Quick NavTopAbout VillyaelleniteClassification Physical Properties Optical Data Chemical Properties Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesRelationshipsCommon AssociatesNickel-StrunzDanaHey's CIMFluorescence Other InformationReferences Internet Links Localities Locality List
Săcărâmb, Deva, Hunedoara, Romania