THE MINERAL CALCIOVOLBORTHITE

  • Chemistry: CaCuVO4(OH) , Calcium Copper Vanadate Hydroxide.
  • Class: Phosphates
  • Group: Adelite
  • Uses: Only as mineral specimens.
  • Specimens
Calciovolborthite is a rare vanadate mineral. Calciovolborthite forms a solid solution series with the mineral conichalcite. A solid solution series occurs when two or more structurally identical minerals can interchange elements within their chemistries without dramatically altering the crystal structure. In the case of conichalcite and calciovolborthite the two elements are arsenic and vanadium. Conichalcite is the arsenic rich end member of the series and calciovolborthite is the vanadium rich end member.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Color is typically various shades of green.
  • Luster is vitreous, pearly or dull.
  • Transparency: Specimens are transparent to opaque.
  • Crystal System is orthorhombic; 2/m 2/m 2/m
  • Crystal Habit is typically in druzy crusts and masses.
  • Cleavage is none.
  • Fracture is uneven.
  • Hardness is 3 to 4.
  • Specific Gravity is approximately 3.8 (heavy for non-metallic minerals)
  • Streak is pale green to gray.
  • Other Characteristics: Some specimens may fluoresce under UV light.
  • Notable Occurrences include Germany
  • Best Field Indicators are color, locality, fluorescence (if present) and density.
CALCIOVOLBORTHITE specimens:
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CALCIOVOLBORTHITE specimen clv-1
$ 24.00
Dims: 2.2" x 1.7" x 1.1" (5.6 x 4.3 x 2.8 cm)
Wt: 1.82 oz. (51.7 g)
former Monument #1 Mine, Navajo County, Arizona, U.S.A.
Though not showing any crystal form and not occurring in any great quantity, this specimen shows an example of Calciovolborthite, a rather rare relative of the mineral conichalcite. Their relationship is visibly believable, as both usually occur as crusts and shapeless masses that have a dull luster and show varying shades of green color. This particular specimen seems to occur in both of those forms, to some extent. The material rests on a bed of shale that has a green-gray color near the Calciovolborthite, but changes to a brick-red coloration on the opposite side.
no photo
clv-1 ($ 24.00)
former Monument #1 Mine, Navajo County, Arizona, U.S.A.
 

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