Name/Title
VarisciteEntry/Object ID
1984.62.55Description
Chemical Composition: AlPO4-2H2O
Crystal System: Orthorhombic System
Description: Common Name: Variscite
Chemistry: AlPO4-2H2O, Hydrated Aluminum Phosphate
Class: Phosphates
Location: Fairfield, Utah
Description: Thin slice with polished face. Reddish-brown outer edge with light and dark creamy yellow inner areas and dark green areas surrounded by light green bands.
Physical Characteristics:
Chemistry: AlPO4-2H2O, Hydrated Aluminum Phosphate
Group: Phosphates
Location: Little Green Monster Variscite Mine, Clay Canyon, Oquirrh Mountains, Utah Cty, Utah
Description: Polished face is a pale green with yellow out line and a beige matrix
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
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
Leland "Cap" MentzerAcquisition
Accession
1984.62Source or Donor
Leland "Cap" MentzerAcquisition Method
Long-term LoanDimensions
Width
2-1/2 inDepth
1/8 inLength
4 inLocation
Location
Container
RightDrawer
Top ShelfShelf
Right, RightWall
NorthRoom
Mentzer HallBuilding
Mentzer Hall: "Caps Collectables" North case#9Category
PermanentMoved By
Steve MillerDate
March 23, 2011Location
Shelf
RightCabinet
Case# 9Building
Mentzer Hall: "Caps Collectables"Category
Permanent