Vanarsite
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Formula:
NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O
Colour:
Very dark blue
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.48
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named for the composition, that includes vanadate, arsenite, and arsenate groups.
Type Locality:
One of a few polyoxometalate minerals from the Packrat mine, that include the related morrisonite and packratite; compare other Ca-As-V bearing similar species: gatewayite and kegginite.
Classification of Vanarsite
Physical Properties of Vanarsite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Very dark blue
Streak:
Grayish blue
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Comment:
~ 2
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
{100}
{100}
Density:
2.48(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.460 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vanarsite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.645(5) nβ = 1.677 nγ = 1.681
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2V:
Measured: 37° (2)
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.036
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:
Not observable
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X cornflower blue, Y dark blue, Z dark blue; X << Z~Y
Chemical Properties of Vanarsite
Formula:
NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O
IMA Formula:
NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O
Emperical Formula (of original material):
(Na1.01Ca11.70Sr0.11Fe2+0.02)Σ12.84(As3+1.00V4+3.34V5+8.76As5+5.90O51)2·78H2O
Crystallography of Vanarsite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 25.8902(8) Å, b = 10.9468(3) Å, c = 28.2980(8) Å
β = 102.252(1)°
β = 102.252(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.365 : 1 : 2.585
Unit Cell V:
7828.9 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Blades flattened on {100} and elongated on [010]
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 13.1 Å | (100) |
| 10.0 Å | (98) |
| 9.3 Å | (63) |
| 7.87 Å | (56) |
| 4.44 Å | (31) |
| 3.339 Å | (33) |
| 2.962 Å | (32) |
| 2.772 Å | (30) |
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Type Occurrence of Vanarsite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Sub-parallel intergrowths and fan-like or finger-like aggregates up to about 5 mm in length
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA, catalogue numbers 64149 and 64150
Geological Setting of Type Material:
On montroseite- and corvusite-bearing sandstone
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Nash, B.P., Marty, J. (2016) Vanarsite, Packratite, Morrisonite, and Gatewayite: Four New Minerals Containing the [As3+V4+,5+12As5+6O51] Heteropolyanion, A Novel Polyoxometalate Cluster. The Canadian Mineralogist: 54(1): 145-162.
Synonyms of Vanarsite
Fluorescence of Vanarsite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in room-temperature H2O; easily soluble in room-temperature dilute HCl.
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 Vanarsite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Marty, J., Nash, B.P. (2014) Vanarsite, IMA 2014- 031. CNMNC Newsletter No. 21, August 2014, page 802. Mineralogical Magazine: 78: 797-804.
Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Nash, B.P., Marty, J. (2016) Vanarsite, Packratite, Morrisonite, and Gatewayite: Four New Minerals Containing the [As3+V4+,5+12As5+6O51] Heteropolyanion, A Novel Polyoxometalate Cluster. The Canadian Mineralogist: 54(1): 145-162.
Internet Links for Vanarsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46169.html
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Localities for Vanarsite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Nash, B.P., Marty, J. (2016) Vanarsite, Packratite, Morrisonite, and Gatewayite: Four New Minerals Containing the [As3+V4+,5+12As5+6O51] Heteropolyanion, A Novel Polyoxometalate Cluster. The Canadian Mineralogist: 54(1): 145-162.; Kampf, A.R., Hughes, J.M., Marty, J. and Nash, B.P. (2014) Vanarsite, IMA 2014- 031. CNMNC Newsletter No. 21, August 2014, page 802. Mineralogical Magazine: 78: 797-804. |
