Variscite Mineral Data

Variscite Mineral Data +

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General Variscite Information

Chemical Formula:

AlPO4·2(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 157.98 gm

Aluminum 17.08 % Al 32.27 % Al₂O₃

Phosphorus 19.61 % P 44.92 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 2.55 % H 22.81 % H₂O

Oxygen 60.76 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Al(PO₄)·2(H₂O)

Environment:

High-phosphate, meteoric waters acting on aluminous rocks.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1837

Locality:

Messbach, Plauen, Vogtland (Variscia), Thuringen, Germany Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after Variscia, the historical name of Vogtland, Germany.

Synonym:

Barrandite

Bolivarite

Lucinite

Utahlite

Variscite Image

Images:

Variscite

Comments: Polished slice of lime green variscite.
Location: Fairfield, Utah. USA. Scale: 5.5 x 8.5 cm x 3 mm.
© Dan Weinrich

Images:

Variscite

Comments: Deep rasberry red drusy micro crystals of variscite in vuggy matrix.
Location: Iron Monarch quarry, Iron Knob, South Australia, Australia. Scale: Picture size 1 cm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Images:

Variscite

Comments: Brilliant cherry red well-defined, clusters of variscite crystals forming tiny single spheroids on white quartz.
Location: Boa Vista, Galileia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Scale: Sphere size 0.3 mm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Variscite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.0248:1:1.7784

Cell Dimensions:

a = 9.9, b = 9.66, c = 17.18, Z = 16; V = 1,642.99 Den(Calc)= 2.55

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - DipyramidalH-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pcab

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 4.29(1), 5.39(0.6), 4.83(0.45),

Crystal Structure:

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drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
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Kniep R , Mootz D , Vegas A , Acta Crystallographica, Section B , 33 (1977) p.263-265, Variscite, Locality: Montgomery County, Arkansas, USA

Physical Properties of Variscite

Cleavage:

[010] Perfect

Color:

Blue green, Colorless, Green, Light green.

Density:

2.5 - 2.52, Average = 2.5

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to Translucent

Fracture:

Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).

Habit:

Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Habit:

Reniform - "Kidney like" in shape (e.g.. hematite).

Hardness:

4-5 - Fluorite-Apatite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Earthy (Dull)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Variscite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.023 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.007 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2281,KPDmeas= 0.2317,KC= 0.2266

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.563, b=1.588, g=1.594, bire=0.0310, 2V(Calc)=50, 2V(Meas)=moderate. Dispersion r < v weak.

Pleochroism (x):

none.

Pleochroism (y):

none.

Pleochroism (z):

none.

Calculated Properties of Variscite

Electron Density:

r_electron=2.58 gm/cc
note: r_Variscite=2.55 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00029
Boson Index = 0.99971

Photoelectric:

PE_Variscite= 1.49 barns/electron
U=PE_Variscite x r_electron= 3.84 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Variscite is Not Radioactive

Variscite Classification

Dana Class:

40.4.1.1 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.4)where A+++ XO4 · x(H2O)

(40.4.1)Dana Group

40.4.1.1 Variscite AlPO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

40.4.1.2 Strengite FePO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

40.4.1.3 Scorodite FeAsO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

40.4.1.4 Mansfieldite AlAsO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

40.4.1.5 Yanomamite In(AsO4)·2(H2O) P bca 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

VII/C.09-50 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/C - Water-bearing phosphates without unfamiliar anions. cations of medium and small size: Be and Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mg

VII/C.09 - Variscite group

VII/C.09-10 Metavariscite AlPO4·2(H2O) P 2₁/n 2/m

VII/C.09-20 Phosphosiderite FePO4·2(H2O) P 2₁/n 2/m

VII/C.09-30 Kolbeckite ScPO4·2(H2O) P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

VII/C.09-35 Malhmoodite FeZr(PO4)2·4(H2O) P 2₁/c 2/m

VII/C.09-50 Variscite AlPO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/C.09-60 Strengite FePO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/C.09-70 Mansfieldite AlAsO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/C.09-80 Scorodite FeAsO4·2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/C.09-85 Yanomamite In(AsO4)·2(H2O) P bca 2/m 2/m 2/m

VII/C.09-88 Parascorodite! FeAsO4·2(H2O) HEX ? Hex

VII/C.09-90 Koninckite FePO4·3(H2O)(?) Unk Tetra

Other Variscite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

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Variscite

AlPO4·2(H2O)
Dana No: 40.4.1.1 Strunz No: VII/C.09-50
Locality:

Notes: