Name/Title
VarisciteEntry/Object ID
1985.1.9Description
Chemical Composition: AlPO4-2H2O
Crystal System: Orthorhombic System
Description: Common Name: Variscite
Chemistry: AlPO4-2H2O, Hydrated Aluminum Phosphate
Group: Phosphates
Location: Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Oquirrh Mountains, Utah Cty, Utah
Description: Rounded slab with polished face colored a dark green with a light green spot off to the side of the main body a large portion of matrix covers one side with light to heavy striations run through the mineral.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Color is light green to emerald green, sometimes bluish-green or colorless.
Luster is vitreous or waxy.
Transparency specimens are translucent.
Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m2/m2/m
Crystal Habits include nodules, fine grain masses, and crusts.
Cleavage is normally not applicable, but should be good in one direction, poor in another
Fracture is conchoidal, splintery, uneven.
Hardness is variable from 3.5 - 5
Specific Gravity is approximately 2.57 (average)
Streak is white.
Associated Minerals are apatite, limonite, chalcedony, crandallite, wardite and other secondary phosphate minerals.
Other Characteristics: alteration to other phosphate minerals causes a shrinkage, yielding gaps between variscite and these other minerals.
Best Field Indicators are color, habit, associations, density and luster.
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 4 Fluorite
Luster: Vitreous
Occurrence: Variscite is a secondary mineral formed by direct deposition from phosphate-bearing water that has reacted with aluminium-rich rocks in a near-surface environment. It occurs as fine-grained masses in nodules, cavity fillings, and crusts. Variscite often contains white veins of the calcium aluminium phosphate mineral crandallite.
Rock Type: Sedimentary
Specific Gravity: 2.57
Streak: white
Texture: Mircocrystalline
Variety: Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral that is sometimes confused with turquoise. It is usually greener, however, than turquoise. Variscite is sometimes used as a semi-precious stone and can make distinctive color patterns that are very attractive. Occassionally it is altered into other phosphate minerals. This can occur in what were perhaps weak layers of a nodule since only portions of the variscite nodules are altered. The most common alteration mineral is crandallite, CaAl3(PO4)2(OH)5-H2O, and gives some nodules a yellow or white layer.Collection
Tom Riley Variscite CollectionDimensions
Height
2 inWidth
8-1/2 inDepth
2 inLength
10-1/2 inWeight
11.98 ozDimension Notes
Dimension taken at widest pointsLocation
Location
Display Case
FS-14Room
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
Exhibit