Vladimirite

Vladimirite

Vladimirite
General
Category Arsenate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Ca5(HAsO4)2(AsO4)2·5H2O
Strunz classification 08.CJ.25
Crystal symmetry Monoclinic prismatic
H-M symbol: (2/m)
Space group: P 21/c
Unit cell a = 5.81 Å, b = 10.19 Å, c = 22.7 Å; β = 97.32°; Z=3
Identification
Formula mass 848.16 g
Color Pale rose, colorless, white
Crystal habit As acicular/bladed crystals occurring in cross-fiber veinlets; spherulitic
Crystal system Monoclinic
Twinning Penetration
Cleavage Good one plane
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 3.5
Luster Sub-vitreous, silky, pearly
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 3.17
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.650 - 1.651 nβ = 1.654 - 1.656 nγ = 1.656 - 1.661
Birefringence δ = 0.006 - 0.010
Pleochroism Non-pleochroic
2V angle Measured: 70°
References [1][2][3][4]

Vladimirite is a rare calcium arsenate mineral with a formula of Ca5(HAsO4)2(AsO4)2·5H2O. It is named after the Vladimirovskoye deposit in Russia, where it was discovered in the 1950s.

Vladimirite is monoclinic-prismatic, which means crystallographically, it contains three axes of unequal length and the angles between two of the axes are 90 degrees, and one is less than 90 degrees. It belongs to the space group P21/c. The mineral also has an orthorhombic polytype. In terms of its optical properties, vladimirite is anisotropic which means the velocity of light varies depending on direction through the mineral. Relief is a diagnostic characteristic of a mineral in plane polarized light that refers to the various ways different minerals "stand out". Vladimirite's calculated relief is 1.65-1.661, which is moderate. It is colorless in plane polarized light, and it is weakly pleochroic. Pleochroism is the variety of colors under plane polarized light displayed by crystals at various angles.

Occurrence

Vladimirite was first described in 1953 at two deposits in Russia, the Khovu-Aksy nickel-cobalt deposit, Tuva Republic, and the Vladimirovskoye cobalt deposit, Altai Mountains, Altaiskii Krai, Siberia.[3] It is a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of arsenic-bearing ore deposits. It occurs with picropharmacolite, erythrite and aragonite. It has been reported from the Richelsdorf Mountains, Hesse, Germany; the Bou Azzer district, Morocco and the Mohawk mine, Keweenaw County, Michigan.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. Catti, and M., Ivaldi, G.(1981) Mechanism of the Reaction Ferrasite (Dimorph of Vladimirite) and Structure of the Latter Phase, B 157, 119-130
  3. 3.0 3.1 Mindat.org
  4. Webmineral