Variscite

Object/Artifact

-

Crater Rock Museum

Name/Title

Variscite

Entry/Object ID

1984.62.809

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: Brecciated chunks of green variscite in an olive green, black and bhrown rock withgray silicate filler. 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.

Collection

Tom Riley Variscite Collection

Acquisition

Accession

1984.62

Source or Donor

Leland "Cap" Mentzer

Acquisition Method

Long-term Loan

Location

Location

Building

Mentzer Hall "Caps Collectables"

Category

Permanent