Vantasselite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Vantasselite
René Van Tassel
Formula:
Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 9H2O
Colour:
White
Lustre:
Pearly
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
2.30
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1987 by André-Mathieu Fransolet (1947-) after René Van Tassel (11 May 1916, Antwerp, Belgium - 20 March 2013, Mortsel, Belgium), a mineralogist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences known for his work on the minerals of Belgium, particularly sulfates and phosphates.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4150
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4150:4
IMA Classification of Vantasselite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Al4(PO4)3(OH)3·9H2O
Approval year:
1986
Classification of Vantasselite
8.DC.37
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
C : With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
42.12.1.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
12 : (AB)4(XO4)3Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
12 : (AB)4(XO4)3Zq·xH2O
19.7.10
19 : Phosphates
7 : Phosphates of Al alone
19 : Phosphates
7 : Phosphates of Al alone
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vts | 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 Vantasselite
Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Comment:
Pearly on cleavages.
Colour:
White
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Cleavage:
Perfect
{001}, micaceous; imperfect on {010}
{001}, micaceous; imperfect on {010}
Density:
2.30(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.312 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vantasselite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.511 - 1.5111 nβ = 1.560(2) nγ = 1.578(2)
2V:
Measured: 61° (2), Calculated: 60°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.067
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:
Low (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:
strong
Chemistry of Vantasselite
Mindat Formula:
Al4(PO4)3(OH)3 · 9H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Vantasselite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.528(4) Å, b = 16.541(3) Å, c = 20.378(6) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.636 : 1 : 1.232
Unit Cell V:
3,548.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Comment:
Point Group: 2/m 2/m 2/m, mm2, or 222.; Space Group: Pmam, Pma2, or P21am.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 10.22 Å | (10) |
| 2.892 Å | (5) |
| 3.395 Å | (4) |
| 3.210 Å | (4) |
| 2.394 Å | (4) |
| 4.87 Å | (3) |
| 3.720 Å | (3) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Vantasselite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Millimetric rosettes of tin-white transparent lamellae on metapelitic dump material.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Li`ege, Li`ege, Belgium
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Vantasselite
Other Language Names for Vantasselite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 7 photos of Vantasselite associated with Variscite | AlPO4 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Vantasselite associated with Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O |
| 2 photos of Vantasselite associated with Turquoise | CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8 · 4H2O |
| 1 photo of Vantasselite associated with 'Schist' | |
| 1 photo of Vantasselite associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DC. | Ferroberaunite | Fe2+Fe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC. | Césarferreiraite | Fe2+ Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC. | Ferrivauxite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC. | Ianbruceite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
| 8.DC.05 | Nissonite | Cu2Mg2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.07 | Euchroite | Cu2(AsO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
| 8.DC.10 | Legrandite | Zn2(AsO4)(OH) · H2O |
| 8.DC.12 | Strashimirite | Cu8(AsO4)4(OH)4 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Earlshannonite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Kunatite | CuFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | 'UM2006-27-PO:FeHZn' | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | 'UKI-2006-(PO:AlCuFeH)' | Fe2+Al3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Cobaltarthurite | CoFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Arthurite | CuFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Ojuelaite | ZnFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Whitmoreite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.15 | Bendadaite | Fe2+Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.17 | Kleemanite | ZnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 8.DC.20 | Magnesiobermanite | MgMn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.20 | Bermanite | Mn2+Mn3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.20 | Coralloite | Mn2+Mn3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.22 | Kovdorskite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
| 8.DC.25 | Zincostrunzite | ZnFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6.5H2O |
| 8.DC.25 | Metavauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.25 | Metavivianite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.25 | Ferristrunzite | Fe3+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.25 | Strunzite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.25 | Ferrostrunzite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.27 | Beraunite | Fe3+6(PO4)4O(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.27 | Tvrdýite | Fe2+Fe3+2Al3(PO4)4(OH)5(H2O)4 · 2H2O |
| 8.DC.27 | Zincoberaunite | ZnFe3+5(PO4)4(OH)5 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Maghrebite | MgAl2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Ferrolaueite | Fe2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Ushkovite | MgFe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Laueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Paravauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Sigloite | Fe3+Al2(PO4)2(OH)3 · 7H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Nordgauite | MnAl2(PO4)2(F,OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Kayrobertsonite | [MnAl2(PO4)2(OH)2(H2O)4] · 2H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Kummerite | Mn2+Fe3+Al(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Mangangordonite | Mn2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Stewartite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Gordonite | MgAl2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Kastningite | (Mn2+,Fe2+,Mg)Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.30 | Pseudolaueite | Mn2+Fe3+2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DC.32 | Kamarizaite | Fe3+3(AsO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2O |
| 8.DC.32 | Tinticite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 3H2O |
| 8.DC.35 | Vauxite | Fe2+Al2(PO4)2(OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.40 | Cacoxenite | Fe3+24AlO6(PO4)17(OH)12 · 75H2O |
| 8.DC.45 | Souzalite | Mg3Al4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DC.45 | Gormanite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(Al,Fe3+)4(PO4)4(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.DC.47 | Kingite | Al3(PO4)2F2(OH) · 7H2O |
| 8.DC.50 | Allanpringite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.50 | Fluorwavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH)2F · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.50 | Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.52 | Kribergite | Al5(PO4)3(SO4)(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.DC.55 | Mapimite | Zn2Fe3+3(AsO4)3(OH)4 · 10H2O |
| 8.DC.57 | Ogdensburgite | Ca2Fe3+4(Zn,Mn2+)(AsO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 8.DC.60 | Cloncurryite | Cu0.5(VO)0.5Al2(PO4)2F2 · 5H2O |
| 8.DC.60 | Nevadaite | (Cu2+,Al,V3+)6Al8(PO4)8F8(OH)2 · 22H2O |
| 8.DC.62 | Kenngottite | Mn2+3Fe3+4(PO4)4(OH)6(H2O)2 |
| 8.DC.67 | Molinelloite | Cu(H2O)(OH)V4+O(V5+O4) |
| 8.DC.70 | Whitecapsite | H16Fe2+5Fe3+14Sb3+6(AsO4)18O16 · 120H2O |
| 8.DC.75 | Heimite | PbCu2(AsO4)(OH)3 · 2H2O |
| 8.DC.80 | Lednevite | Cu[PO3(OH)] · H2O |
Other Information
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 Vantasselite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4150.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Vantasselite
Reference List:
Fransolet, André-Mathieu (1987) La vantasselite, Al4(PO4)3(OH)3·9H2O, une nouvelle espèce minérale du Massif de Stavelot, Belgique. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 110 (6) 647-656 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1987.8009
Jambor, John L.; Bladh, Kenneth W.; Ercit, T. Scott; Grice, Joel D.; Grew, Edward S. (1988) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 73 (7-8). 927-935
Frost, Ray L., Scholz, Ricardo, Belotti, Fernanda Maria, López, Andrés, Theiss, Frederick L. (2015) A vibrational spectroscopic study of the phosphate mineral vantasselite Al4(PO4)3(OH)3·9H2O. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 147. 185-192 doi:10.1016/j.saa.2015.03.090
Localities for Vantasselite
Showing 7 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.
Belgium | |
| Fransolet (1987) +3 other references |
| Fransolet (1987) |
| A. Van Herreweghe collection | |
Germany | |
| Blaß (2002) |
| Blaß et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| www.mineralienatlas.de (2016) |
Japan | |
| Inaba & Minakawa (1996) |
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Bihain, Vielsalm, Luxembourg, Wallonia, Belgium