Rossite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Rossite
Clarence S. Ross
Formula:
Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O
Colour:
Pale yellow; yellow in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.45
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named 1927 by William F. Foshag and Frank L. Hess in honor of Dr. Clarence Samuel Ross (September 20, 1880 - April 19, 1975, Rockville, Maryland, USA), American geologist and mineralogist, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., USA.
Dimorph of:
Rossite Group.
A rare calcium vanadate hydrate that transforms reversibly to metarossite (dehydration within a few weeks time).
A rare calcium vanadate hydrate that transforms reversibly to metarossite (dehydration within a few weeks time).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3460
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3460:5
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
35b16419-468d-40f0-af58-64ba412cafcc
IMA Classification of Rossite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O
First published:
1928
Classification of Rossite
4.HD.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
D : Inovanadates
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
D : Inovanadates
47.1.1.1
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
1 : Normal Anhydrous Vanadium Oxysalts
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
1 : Normal Anhydrous Vanadium Oxysalts
21.2.2
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
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Rossite
Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale yellow; yellow in transmitted light.
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
One direction, prominent.
One direction, prominent.
Density:
2.45 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.42 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Rossite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.710 nβ = 1.770 nγ = 1.840
2V:
Measured: 60° , Calculated: 90°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.130
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
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Optical Extinction:
Y ∧ b ≃ 45°; Z ≃ c.
Comments:
Optical class is based on recrystallized material.
Chemistry of Rossite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Rossite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.552 Å, b = 8.576 Å, c = 7.028 Å
α = 101.5°, β = 114.96°, γ = 103.39°
α = 101.5°, β = 114.96°, γ = 103.39°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.997 : 1 : 0.819
Unit Cell V:
428.03 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Small glassy lumps surrounded by alteration rims. Artificial crystals commonly elongated [001] and rather flattened on {010}; rarely tabular {001}, lath-like or acicular [001].
Twinning:
On {100} ?
Comment:
Space group is based on recrystallized material.
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
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
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Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005081 | Rossite | Ahmed F R, Barnes W H (1963) The crystal structure of rossite The Canadian Mineralogist 7 713-726 |  | 1963 | Dolores River, Colorado, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Image Loading
Radiation - Copper Kα
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.860 Å | (100) |
| 6.636 Å | (95) |
| 7.260 Å | (90) |
| 3.432 Å | (60) |
| 3.033 Å | (55) |
| 3.000 Å | (50) |
| 3.934 Å | (25) |
Comments:
Yellow Cat Wash, Utah, USA. Data from Bayliss (1985). Material was rehydrated from metarossite.
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] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Rossite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Veinlets; small glasy lumps surrounded by alteration rims of metarossite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #95331, R5707.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Carnotite-bearing sandstone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Foshag, W.F., Hess, F.L. (1928) Rossite and metarossite; two new vanadates from Colorado. Proceedings of the U.S. National Museum: 72: 1-12.
Other Language Names for Rossite
Relationship of Rossite to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Rossite associated with Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| 5 photos of Rossite associated with Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| 4 photos of Rossite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
| 3 photos of Rossite associated with Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| 3 photos of Rossite associated with Corvusite | (Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 6-10H2O |
| 3 photos of Rossite associated with Metahewettite | CaV6O16 · 3H2O |
| 2 photos of Rossite associated with Sherwoodite | Ca5.5(AlV4+V5+12O39) · 28H2O |
| 2 photos of Rossite associated with Pascoite Group | |
| 2 photos of Rossite associated with Hewettite | CaV6O16 · 9H2O |
| 1 photo of Rossite associated with Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.HD. | Pseudodickthomssenite | Mg(VO3)2 · 8H2O |
| 4.HD.10 | Metarossite | Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O |
| 4.HD.15 | Munirite | NaVO3 · 1.9H2O |
| 4.HD.20 | Metamunirite | NaVO3 |
| 4.HD.25 | Dickthomssenite | Mg(V2O6) · 7H2O |
| 4.HD.30 | Ansermetite | Mn2+(V2O6) · 4H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated before the blowpipe, rossite fuses easily to a black bead without coloring the flame. Heated in a closed tube it fuses easily and gives off water.
Notes:
Slowly soluble in water. Transforms to metarossite in open air within a matter of weeks. The process is reversible.
When moisted with concentrated HCl, rossite turns mahogany red (vanadic acid).
When moisted with concentrated HCl, rossite turns mahogany red (vanadic acid).
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 Rossite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3460.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Rossite
Localities for Rossite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Blue Cap Mine, La Sal Creek Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA