General Variscite Information Chemical Formula: |
AlPO4•2(H2O) |
Composition: |
Molecular Weight = 157.98 gm |
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Aluminum 17.08 % Al 32.27 % Al2O3 |
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Phosphorus 19.61 % P 44.92 % P2O5 |
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Hydrogen 2.55 % H 22.81 % H2O |
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Oxygen 60.76 % O |
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______ ______ |
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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. |
Name Pronunciation: |
Variscite + Pronunciation |
Synonym: |
Barrandite |
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Bolivarite |
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Coeruleolactite - mixture of planerite + variscite + wavellite |
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Lucinite |
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Utahlite |
| | Variscite Image
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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 |
X Ray Diffraction: |
By Intensity(I/Io): 4.29(1), 5.39(0.6), 4.83(0.45), |
Crystal Structure:
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Mouse
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| Physical Properties of Variscite Cleavage: |
{010} Perfect |
Color: |
Blue green, Colorless, Green, Light green. |
Density: |
2.5 - 2.52, Average = 2.5 |
Diaphaneity: |
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: |
Fluorescent, Long UV=grass green. |
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 Ncalc = 1.57 - 1.58 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: |
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.58 gm/cc |
note: Specific Gravity of Variscite =2.55 gm/cc. Fermion Index: |
Fermion Index = 0.0002954932 |
Boson Index = 0.9997045068 Photoelectric: |
PEVariscite = 1.49 barns/electron |
U=PEVariscite x rElectron Density= 3.84 barns/cc. Radioactivity: |
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) |
Variscite is Not Radioactive | Variscite Classification Dana Class: |
40.04.01.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc |
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(40.04)where A+++ XO4 · x(H2O) |
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(40.04.01)Variscite Group |
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Strunz Class: |
08.CD.10 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES |
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08.C - Phosphates without Additional Anions, with H2O |
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08.CD -With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:2 |
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| Other Variscite Information References: |
NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Collectors Book of Fluorescent Minerals) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) |
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 - GeoScienceWorld 8 - Glendale Community College 9 - Google Images 10 - Google Scholar 11 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm) 12 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA) 13 - HyperPhysics 14 - MinDAT 15 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch) 16 - Online Mineral Museum 17 - Philatelic Mineralogy 18 - QUT Mineral Atlas 19 - Ruff.Info 20 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems 21 - WWW-MINCRYST 22 - YupRocks Search for Variscite using: Visit our Advertisers for Variscite : A Bijoux Google Search for VarisciteAdam's Minerals Google Search for Variscite Cape Minerals Google Search for Variscite Dakota Matrix Minerals Google Search for Variscite Excalibur Mineral Corp. Google Search for Variscite Exceptional Minerals Google Search for Variscite John Betts Fine Minerals Search for Variscite McDougall Minerals Google Search for Variscite Mineral News Website Link Rock and Mineral Shows Google Search for Variscite Weinrich Minerals, Inc. Google Search for Variscite Ask about Variscite here : Print or Cut-and-Paste your Variscite Specimen Label here :
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