Vesuvianite Mineral Data

General Vesuvianite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 1,422.09 gm

Calcium 28.18 % Ca 39.43 % CaO

Magnesium 3.42 % Mg 5.67 % MgO

Aluminum 7.59 % Al 14.34 % Al₂O₃

Silicon 17.77 % Si 38.03 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 0.28 % H 2.53 % H₂O

Oxygen 42.75 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ca₁₀Mg₂Al₄(Si₂O₇)₂(SiO₄)₅(OH)₄

Environment:

Contact metamorphic rocks and alpine veins.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1795

Locality:

Mte. Somma, Vesuvius, Italy. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after its locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Vesuvianite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 79151

Idocrase

PDF 38-473

Vesuvianite Image

Images:

Vesuvianite

Comments: Clear, purple vesuvianite crystals.
Location: Jeffrey mine, Asbestos, Quebec, Canada. Scale: Crystal size 5x3.5x3 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Vesuvianite Grossular

Comments: Blocky, tan-colored vesuvianite with white grossular (garnet).
Location: Sierra de la Cruz, Lago Jaco, Coahuila, Mexico. Scale: 3.5 x 4.5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Vesuvianite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:0.7616

Cell Dimensions:

a = 15.504, c = 11.808, Z = 4; V = 2,838.34 Den(Calc)= 3.33

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (4/m) Space Group: P 4/n

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.752(1), 2.593(0.8), 1.621(0.6),

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Forms: ( 1 1 1) ( 1 1 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Physical Properties of Vesuvianite

Cleavage:

{110} Indistinct, {100} Indistinct, {001} Indistinct

Color:

Blue, Brown, Green, Yellow, White.

Density:

3.35 - 3.45, Average = 3.4

Diaphaneity:

Subtransparent to subtranslucent

Fracture:

Sub Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by semi-curving surfaces.

Habit:

Columnar - Forms columns

Habit:

Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

6.5 - Pyrite

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous - Resinous

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Vesuvianite

Dichroism (e):

brown, colorless, or reddish brown.

Dichroism (w):

light gray, yellow green, or gray.

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.021 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2161,KPDmeas= 0.2116,KC= 0.2115
Ncalc = 1.7 - 1.73

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=1.698-1.736, w=1.702-1.742, bire=0.0040-0.0060.

Calculated Properties of Vesuvianite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.39 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Vesuvianite =3.40 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.01
Boson Index = 0.99

Photoelectric:

PE_Vesuvianite= 4.44 barns/electron
U=PE_Vesuvianite x rElectron Density= 15.06 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Vesuvianite is Not Radioactive

Vesuvianite Classification

Dana Class:

58.02.04.01 (58)Sorosilicate Insular, Mixed, Single, and Larger Tetrahedral Groups

(58.02)with cations in [6] and higher coordination; single and double groups (n=1,2)

(58.02.04)Vesuvianite Group

58.02.04.01 Vesuvianite Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4 P 4/n 4/m

58.02.04.02 Wiluite! Ca19(Al,Mg,Fe,Ti)13(B,Al,[])5Si18O68(O,OH)10 P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

58.02.04.03 Fluorvesuvianite! Ca19(Al,Mg)13[SiO4]10[Si2O7]4(F,OH)10 P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

58.02.04.04 Manganvesuvianite! Ca19Mn(Al,Mn,Fe)10(Mg,Mn)2Si18O69(OH)9 P 4/n 4/m

Strunz Class:

09.BG.35 09 - SILICATES (Germanates)

09.B - Sorosilicates

09.BG -Sorosilicates with mixed SiO4 and Si2O7 groups;

09.BG.35 Vesuvianite Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4 P 4/n 4/m

09.BG.35 Fluorvesuvianite! Ca19(Al,Mg)13[SiO4]10[Si2O7]4(F,OH)10 P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

09.BG.35 Wiluite! Ca19(Al,Mg,Fe,Ti)13(B,Al,[])5Si18O68(O,OH)10 P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

09.BG.35 Manganvesuvianite! Ca19Mn(Al,Mn,Fe)10(Mg,Mn)2Si18O69(OH)9 P 4/n 4/m

Other Vesuvianite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Heinrich65)

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Vesuvianite

Ca10Mg2Al4(SiO4)5(Si2O7)2(OH)4
Dana No: 58.02.04.01 Strunz No: 09.BG.35
Locality:

Notes:

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