Variscite Mineral Data

Variscite Mineral Data
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General Variscite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: AlPO4•2(H2O)
Help on Composition: 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
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Al(PO4)•2(H2O)
Help on Environment: Environment: High-phosphate, meteoric waters acting on aluminous rocks.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1837
Help on Locality: Locality: Messbach, Plauen, Vogtland (Variscia), Thuringen, Germany Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: Named after Variscia, the historical name of Vogtland, Germany.
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Variscite + Pronunciation Say VARISCITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Barrandite
  Bolivarite
  Coeruleolactite - mixture of planerite + variscite + wavellite
  Lucinite
  Utahlite
 

Variscite Image

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Variscite

Comments: Polished slice of lime green variscite.
Location: Fairfield, Utah. USA. Scale: 5.5 x 8.5 cm x 3 mm.
© Dan Weinrich
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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
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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
Help on Axial Ratios: Axial Ratios: a:b:c =1.0248:1:1.7784
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 9.9, b = 9.66, c = 17.18, Z = 16; V = 1,642.99 Den(Calc)= 2.55
Help on Crystal System: 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/Io): 4.29(1), 5.39(0.6), 4.83(0.45),
Click Here for Large Variscite Structure Window Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
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H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
 Help on Above


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

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {010} Perfect
Help on Color: Color: Blue green, Colorless, Green, Light green.
Help on Density: Density: 2.5 - 2.52, Average = 2.5
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).
Help on Habit: Habit: Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.
Help on Habit: Habit: Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.
Help on Habit: Habit: Reniform - "Kidney like" in shape (e.g.. hematite).
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 4-5 - Fluorite-Apatite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Fluorescent, Long UV=grass green.
Help on Luster: Luster: Earthy (Dull)
Help on Streak: Streak: white
 

Optical Properties of Variscite

Help on Gladstone-Dale: 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
Ncalc = 1.57 - 1.58
Help on Optical Data: 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.
Help on Pleochroism (x): Pleochroism (x): none.
Help on Pleochroism (y): Pleochroism (y): none.
Help on Pleochroism (z): Pleochroism (z): none.
 

Calculated Properties of Variscite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.58 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Variscite =2.55 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.0002954932
Boson Index = 0.9997045068
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PEVariscite = 1.49 barns/electron
U=PEVariscite x rElectron Density= 3.84 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Variscite is Not Radioactive
 

Variscite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 40.04.01.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc
  (40.04)where A+++ XO4 · x(H2O)
  (40.04.01)Variscite Group
 
40.04.01.01 Variscite AlPO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
40.04.01.02 Strengite FePO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
40.04.01.03 Scorodite FeAsO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
40.04.01.04 Mansfieldite AlAsO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
40.04.01.05 Yanomamite In(AsO4)•2(H2O) P bca 2/m 2/m 2/m
Help on Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 08.CD.10 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
  08.C - Phosphates without Additional Anions, with H2O
  08.CD -With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:2
 
08.CD.10 Strengite FePO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
08.CD.10 Mansfieldite AlAsO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
08.CD.10 Variscite AlPO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
08.CD.10 Scorodite FeAsO4•2(H2O) Pcab 2/m 2/m 2/m
 
08.CD.10 Yanomamite In(AsO4)•2(H2O) P bca 2/m 2/m 2/m
 

Other Variscite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Collectors Book of Fluorescent Minerals) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Variscite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - CalTech Mineral Spectroscopy
5 - EUROmin Project
6 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
7 - Glendale Community College
8 - Google Images
9 - Google Scholar
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
12 - HyperPhysics
13 - MinDAT
14 - MinMax(Deutsch)
15 - MinMax(English)
16 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
17 - Philatelic Mineralogy
18 - QUT Mineral Atlas
19 - Ruff.Info
20 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
21 - WWW-MINCRYST
22 - YupRocks

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Variscite Specimen Label here :

Variscite

AlPO4•2(H2O)
Dana No: 40.04.01.01 Strunz No: 08.CD.10
Locality:

 

Notes: