Vanadinite
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Vanadinite was named in 1838 by Franz von Kobell for its vanadium content.

Discovered in 1838; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl

Lead Chlorovanadinate

Molecular Weight:

1,416.27 gm

Composition:

Vanadium

10.79 %

V

19.26 %

V₂O₅

Lead

73.15 %

Pb

78.80 %

PbO

Chlorine

2.50 %

Cl

2.50 %

Cl

—

 —  %

Cl

-O=Cl₂

Oxygen

13.56 %

O

100.00 %

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Phosphates; Vanadates subclass

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

7/B.39-170

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

8.BN.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
B : Phosphates, etc., with additional anions, without H₂O
N : With only large cations, (OH, etc.):RO₄ = 0.33:1

Related to:

Apatite Group. The vanadate analogue of Mimetite and Pyromorphite. Mimetite-Vanadinite Series. Pyromorphite-Vanadinite Series. Isostructural with Mimetite, Pyromorphite.

Members of Group:

Apatite Group: Alforsite, Bellite, Carbonate-rich Fluorapatite, Chlorapatite, Fluorapatite, Hydroxylapatite, Hydroxylapatite-M, Hydroxylpyromorphite, Johnbaumite, Johnbaumite-M, Manganapatite, Mimetite, Mimetite-2M, Miyahisaite, Mn-bearing Fluorapatite, Oxypyromorphite, Pieczkaite, Pyromorphite, Stronadelphite, Svabite, Turneaureite, Unnamed (F-analogue of Pyromorphite), Unnamed (OH-analogue of Mimetite), Vanadinite 

Varieties:

Arsenatian Vanadinite, Cuprian Vanadinite

Synonyms:

Johnstonite (of Chapman), Lead vanadate, Vanadate of Lead

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Hexagonal - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Typically in well-developed hexagonal prismatic crystals, to 14 cm, short to long along [0001], with {1010}, {0001}, modified by {1120}, {1011}, {2021}, {1121}, many others. Commonly cavernous and in parallel groupings; may be acicular, hairlike, fibrous; rarely rounded, globular. 

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

None observed

Fracture:

Irregular/uneven, conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

2.5 - 3.0

Density:

6.88 (g/cm³); density decreases with the substitution of Ca for Pb; reported values range between ~6.5 to 7.1.

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Readily soluble in HNO3 to a yellow solution; soluble in HCl to a green solution with the deposition of lead chloride.

Optical Properties

Color:

Orange-red, red-brown, brown, bright red, yellow, whitish; pale straw-yellow; colourless or weakly tinted in transmitted light. May exhibit zoned coloration due to varying composition.

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

Luster:

Sub-adamantine, resinous

Refractive Index:

2.416 - 2.350  Uniaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.066

Dispersion:

n/a

Pleochroism:

Weak; visible in tinted material in transmitted light

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of lead-bearing deposits, the vanadium leached from wall-rock silicates.

Common Associations:

Mimetite, Pyromorphite, Descloizite, Mottramite, Wulfenite, Cerussite, Anglesite, Calcite, Barite, iron oxides

Common Impurities:

P, As, Ca

Type Locality:

Zimapán, Mun. de Zimapán, Hidalgo, Mexico

Year Discovered:

1838

View mineral photos:

Vandinite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Vanadinite is a lead chlorovanadinate mineral that belongs to the Apatite Group of minerals that includes Apatite, Mimetite, Pyromorphite, Svabite and Vanadinite. Vanadinite is isostructural with Apatite and Pyromorphite. Isostructural means the minerals share the same crystal structure but different chemistries. It was first discovered 1838 by Señor A.M. del Rio (1764-1849), Professor, School of Mines of Mexico at Zimapán, Mun. de Zimapán, Hidalgo, Mexico. Vanadinite's classic crystal habit is short hexagonal prisms that are wider than they are long, and terminated by a flat basal face. The high luster and deep red color make Vanadinite very appealing to gem and mineral collectors. Vanadinite is a fairly common mineral but rarely available as a faceted gem.

Vanadinite distribution: many localities, even for fine crystals. From Zimapán, Hidalgo; at San Carlos and Los Lamentos, Chihuahua; and Rayon, Sonora, Mexico. In the USA, in Arizona, fine examples from the Old Yuma mine, near Tucson, Pima County, at the Hamburg, Red Cloud, and North Geronimo mines, Silver district, La Paz County, and in the Puzzler mine, Castle Dome district, Yuma County, from the Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, Tiger, Pinal County, at the Gallagher mine, near Charleston, Cochise County, in the Apache mine, Gila County, at the Western Union mine, near Cerbat, Mohave County; in New Mexico, from the Hillsboro and Lake Valley districts, Sierra County. In Morocco, large crystals from Mibladen, at Taouz, and in the Touissit mine, near Oujda. At Keban, Turkey. Very large crystals from Abenab, Otavi district, Namibia. At Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia.
 

  
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