Vanarsite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Vanarsite
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.
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.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46169
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46169:6
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
8832294c-fb3a-425e-8cfc-c16d8f541555
IMA Classification of Vanarsite
Approved
IMA Formula:
NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O
Approval year:
2014
First published:
2016
Type description reference:
Classification of Vanarsite
8.FD.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
D : Polyphosphates, etc., with OH and H2O
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
D : Polyphosphates, etc., with OH and H2O
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vns | 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 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
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
Chemistry of Vanarsite
Mindat Formula:
NaCa12(As3+V5+8.5V4+3.5As5+6O51)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):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
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
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.FD.05 | Volborthite | Cu3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.FD.05 | Martyite | Zn3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.FD.05 | Karpenkoite | Co3(V2O7)(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Packratite | Ca11(As3+V5+10V4+2As5+6O51)2 · 83H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Morrisonite | Ca11(As3+V4+2V5+10As5+6O51)2 · 78H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Gatewayite | Ca6(As3+V4+3 V5+9As5+6O51) · 31H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Kegginite | Pb3Ca3[AsV12O40(VO)] · 20H2O |
| 8.FD.10 | Bicapite | [KNa2Mg2(H2O)25][H2PV5+12O40(V5+O)2] |
| 8.FD.10 | Lumsdenite | NaCa3Mg2(As3+V4+2V5+10As5+6O51) · 45H2O |
| 8.FD.15 | Chinchorroite | Na2Mg5(As2O7)2(AsO3OH)2(H2O)10 |
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.
Internet Links for Vanarsite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46169.html
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References for Vanarsite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014, CNMNC Newsletter No 21. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (4) 797-804 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.4.03
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 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.
USA (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2014) +1 other reference |
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Packrat Mine, Beaver Mesa, Gateway Mining District, Mesa County, Colorado, USA