Metarossite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Metarossite
Clarence S. Ross
Formula:
Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O
Colour:
Very light yellow to pale greenish yellow; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light
Lustre:
Pearly, Dull
Hardness:
1 - 2
Specific Gravity:
2.8 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named for its relationship to rossite, where 'meta' refers to natural dehydration. It was named at the same time as rossite, where the root name is for Dr. Clarence Samuel Ross (September 20, 1880 - April 19, 1975, Rockville, Maryland, USA), American geologist and mineralogist, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D.C., USA.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
2682
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:2682:2
IMA Classification of Metarossite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
CaV5+2O6(H2O)2
First published:
1928
Classification of Metarossite
4.HD.10
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
D : Inovanadates
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
D : Inovanadates
47.1.1.2
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
1 : Normal Anhydrous Vanadium Oxysalts
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
1 : Normal Anhydrous Vanadium Oxysalts
21.2.1
21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
2 : Vanadates of Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba
21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
2 : Vanadates of Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Mrs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Metarossite
Pearly, Dull
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Very light yellow to pale greenish yellow; colourless to pale yellow in transmitted light
Hardness:
1 - 2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Fragile
Density:
2.8 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Metarossite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.84 nβ = 1.85 nγ = 1.85
2V:
Measured: 70°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Chemistry of Metarossite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(V2O6) · 2H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Metarossite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.215 Å, b = 7.065 Å, c = 7.769 Å
α = 92.97°, β = 96.65°, γ = 105.78°
α = 92.97°, β = 96.65°, γ = 105.78°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.88 : 1 : 1.1
Unit Cell V:
324.82 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals platy; flaky; massive. As alteration rims on and complete replacements of rossite.
Twinning:
On {101} as the twin plane.
Comment:
parameters from the recent redetermination (Kobsch et al., 2016): a=6.2059(4), b=7.0635(4), c=7.7516(5), α=93.166(4), β=96.548(4), γ=105.883(4)Å, V=323.36(4) (Å3)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
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CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
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Labels
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0020635 | Metarossite | Kobsch A, Downs R T, Domanik K J (2016) Redetermination of metarossite, CaV5+2O6*2H2O Acta Crystallographica E72 1280-1284 |  | 2016 | Blue Cap mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0005077 | Metarossite | Kelsey C H, Barnes W H (1960) The crystal structure of metarossite The Canadian Mineralogist 6 448-466 |  | 1960 | Thompson's, Utah, USA | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.9 Å | (strong) |
| 5.1 Å | (strong) |
| 3.05 Å | (moderate) |
Comments:
Colorado, USA. The data are from Weeks and Thompson (1954).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Metarossite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Veinlets, alteration rims on rossite lumps.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA: #95331A, R5707A.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Carnotite-bearing sandstone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Metarossite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 11 photos of Metarossite associated with Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| 6 photos of Metarossite associated with Dickthomssenite | Mg(V2O6) · 7H2O |
| 6 photos of Metarossite associated with Rossite | Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 3 photos of Metarossite associated with Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| 2 photos of Metarossite associated with Pascoite Family | |
| 2 photos of Metarossite associated with Paramontroseite | V4+O2 |
| 2 photos of Metarossite associated with Corvusite | (Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 6-10H2O |
| 1 photo of Metarossite associated with Calciodelrioite | Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Metarossite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
| 1 photo of Metarossite associated with Metamunirite | NaVO3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.HD. | Pseudodickthomssenite | Mg(VO3)2 · 8H2O |
| 4.HD.05 | Rossite | Ca(VO3)2 · 4H2O |
| 4.HD.15 | Munirite | NaVO3 · 1.9H2O |
| 4.HD.20 | Metamunirite | NaVO3 |
| 4.HD.25 | Dickthomssenite | Mg(V2O6) · 7H2O |
| 4.HD.30 | Ansermetite | Mn2+(V2O6) · 4H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated before the blowpipe, metarossite fuses easily to a black bead without coloring the flame. Heated in a closed tube it fuses easily and gives off water.
Notes:
Soluble in water. When moisted with concentrated HCl, metarossite turns mahogany red (vanadic acid).
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Metarossite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2682.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Metarossite
Reference List:
Barnes, W. H., Qurashi, M. M. (1952) Unit cell and space group data for certain vanadium minerals. American Mineralogist, 37 (5-6) 407-422
Baran, E. J., Cabello, C. I., Nord, A. G. (1987) Raman spectra of some MIIV2O6 brannerite-type metavanadates. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 18 (6). 405-407 doi:10.1002/jrs.1250180606
Localities for Metarossite
Showing 42 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Firefly–Pigmay Mine, La Sal Creek Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA