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Normal Topic Wavellite - October 2014 (Read 1450 times)
Scott LaBorde
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Wavellite - October 2014
Sep 30th, 2014 at 2:28pm
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Wavellite is a phosphate mineral with formula Al3(PO4)2(OH, F)3·5H2O. It normally occurs as translucent green radial or spherical clusters.

Discovery and occurrence

It was first described in 1805 for an occurrence within the High Down Quarry, Filleigh, Devon, England and named for William Wavell (20 DEC 1750 - 15 JAN 1829) of England who discovered the mineral.

It occurs in association with crandallite and variscite in fractures in aluminous metamorphic rock, in hydrothermal regions and in phosphate rock deposits. It is found in a wide variety of locations notably in the Mount Ida, Arkansas area in the Ouachita Mountains.

CategoryPhosphate minerals
Formula (repeating unit)Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3·5H2O
Strunz classification08.DC.50
Crystal symmetryOrthorhombic dipyramidal H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space group: Pcmn
Unit cella = 9.621 Å, b = 17.363 Å,
c = 6.994 Å; Z = 4
ColorGreen to yellowish-green and yellow, brown, white and colorless
Crystal habitSpherical, radial aggregates; striated prisms; crusty to stalactitic
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Cleavage[110] perfect, [101] good, [010] distinct
FractureUneven to subconchoidal
Mohs scale hardness3.5 - 4
LusterVitreous to resinous, pearly
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity2.36
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα = 1.518 - 1.535 nβ = 1.524 - 1.543 nγ = 1.544 - 1.561
Birefringenceδ = 0.026
PleochroismWeak; X = greenish; Z = yellowish
2V angleMeasured: 60° to 72°
FusibilityInfusable, swells and splits on heating
SolubilityInsoluble

And the link to the Wikipedia page this is from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavellite
Here's a link to mindat.org page on wavellite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavellite
Google images of Wavellite:  http://www.google.com/images?q=wavellite
  
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