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Villyaellenite

A valid IMA mineral species
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About VillyaelleniteHide

00274270017271927601057.jpg
Villy Aellen
Formula:
(Mn,Ca)Mn2Ca2(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2 · 4H2O
Colour:
Colorless, orange to light pink
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
3.20
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by H. Sarp in 1984 after Villy Aellen, (1926, Neuchâtel, Switzerland - 2000), zoologist and former Director of the Natural History Museum of Geneva (Switzerland).
Isostructural with:
Compare giftgrubeite, the ordered (Ca:Mn = 3:2) intermediate member between villyaellenite and sainfeldite.

See also the closely related miguelromeroite. Note: The miguelromeroite samples from the Veta Negra mine, Chile, were originally labeled "villyaellenite".




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
4182
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4182:5

IMA Classification of VillyaelleniteHide

Approved
IMA Formula:
(Mn2+,Ca)Mn2+2Ca2(As5+O4)2(As5+O3OH)2·4H2O
Approval year:
1983
First published:
1984

Classification of VillyaelleniteHide

8.CB.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
B : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O = 1:1
39.2.1.3

39 : HYDRATED ACID PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2 : (AB)5[HXO4]2[XO4]2.xH2O
20.8.20

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
8 : Arsenates of Mn

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
VyIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of VillyaelleniteHide

Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colorless, orange to light pink
Streak:
White
Hardness:
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{100} good
Density:
3.20 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.24 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
D as high as 3.72, Am Min (1988): 73:1172

Optical Data of VillyaelleniteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.660 - 1.713 nβ = 1.670 - 1.723 nγ = 1.676 - 1.729
2V:
Measured: 70.5° to 76°, Calculated: 75° to 75.6°
Birefringence:
0.016
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.016
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.

Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
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.
Dispersion:
weak
Optical Extinction:
Y ^ c = 30°-40°.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X=very pale orange pink, Y=exceedingly pale pink, Z=pale orange pink; Z>>X>Y.
Comments:
Higher optics may represent closeness to end-member.

Chemistry of VillyaelleniteHide

Mindat Formula:
(Mn,Ca)Mn2Ca2(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
O36.582 %
As34.261 %
Mn18.842 %
Ca9.164 %
H1.152 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
O
As
Mn
Ca
H
Common Impurities:
Zn,Ca,Fe

Crystallography of VillyaelleniteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 18.55 Å, b = 9.50 Å, c = 9.99 Å
β = 96.94°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.953 : 1 : 1.052
Unit Cell V:
1,747.59 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Rosettes of prismatic crystals, elongated || [001], tabular || {100}.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
8.21 Å(50)
4.45 Å(30)
3.24 Å(50)
3.21 Å(100)
3.13 Å(30)
3.06 Å(70)
2.98 Å(40)
2.34 Å(30)
Comments:
ICDD 41-1455, also 37-444.

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates]
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals<10 Ka
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals

Type Occurrence of VillyaelleniteHide

Synonyms of VillyaelleniteHide

Other Language Names for VillyaelleniteHide

Relationship of Villyaellenite to other SpeciesHide

Other Members of Hureaulite Group:
ChongiteCa3Mg2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
GiftgrubeiteCaMn2Ca2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
HureauliteMn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
MiguelromeroiteMn2+5(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2(H2O)4Mon. 2/m : B2/b
NyholmiteCd3Zn2(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
SainfelditeCa5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
4 photos of Villyaellenite associated with KrautiteMn(HAsO4) · H2O
2 photos of Villyaellenite associated with GeigeriteMn2+5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O
1 photo of Villyaellenite associated with SideriteFeCO3
1 photo of Villyaellenite associated with Native ArsenicAs

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.CB.KrupičkaiteCu6[AsO3(OH)]6 · 8H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.CB.XHonzaiteNi2(AsO3OH)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.CB.XRedonditeAlPO4 · 2H2O
8.CB.05ErmeloiteAl(PO4) · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CB.05SerrabrancaiteMnPO4 · H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CB.10NyholmiteCd3Zn2(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CB.10GiftgrubeiteCaMn2Ca2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CB.10HureauliteMn2+5(PO3OH)2(PO4)2 · 4H2OMon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CB.10MiguelromeroiteMn2+5(AsO3OH)2(AsO4)2(H2O)4Mon. 2/m : B2/b
8.CB.10'UM1997-09-AsO:CaHMgZn'(Mg,Ca,Zn)5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 4H2OMon.
8.CB.15KrautiteMn(HAsO4) · H2OMon. 2 : P21
8.CB.20CobaltkoritnigiteCo(AsO3OH) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CB.20MagnesiokoritnigiteMg(AsO3OH) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CB.20KoritnigiteZn(AsO3OH) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CB.25YvoniteCu(HAsO4) · 2H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CB.30GeminiteCu2+(AsO3OH) · H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CB.35SchubneliteFe3+VO4 · H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.CB.40RadovaniteCu2Fe3+(AsO4)(HAs3+O3)2 · H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma
8.CB.45KazakhstaniteFe3+5V4+3V5+12O39(OH)9 · 9H2OMon.
8.CB.50KolovratiteNixZny(VO4)0.67(x+y) · nH2O
8.CB.60BurgessiteCo2(H2O)4[AsO3(OH)]2(H2O)Mon. 2/m
8.CB.65CarditeZn5.5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)(OH)3 · 3H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Fluorescence of VillyaelleniteHide

Not fluorescent.

Other InformationHide

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 VillyaelleniteHide

References for VillyaelleniteHide

Localities for VillyaelleniteHide

Showing 11 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile
 
  • Atacama
    • Copiapó Province
      • Tierra Amarilla
        • Pampa Larga mining district
Kampf (2009)
Czech Republic
 
  • Karlovy Vary Region
    • Karlovy Vary District
Hloušek et al. (2002)
France (TL)
 
  • Grand Est
    • Haut-Rhin
      • Colmar-Ribeauvillé
Sarp (1984) +2 other references
Bari (1982)
            • Saint Jacques vein
Bari (1982)
Italy
 
  • Piedmont
    • Metropolitan City of Turin
      • Borgofranco d'Ivrea
        • Biò
Campostrini et al. (2014)
Japan
 
  • Fukushima Prefecture
    • Iwaki City
MATSUBARA et al. (1996)
Mexico
 
  • Durango
    • Mapimí Municipality
      • Mapimí
Kampf et al. (1987) +2 other references
Moore (2008)
Romania
 
  • Hunedoara County
    • Certeju de Sus
Ghergari et al. (1994)
USA
 
  • New Jersey
    • Sussex County
      • Ogdensburg
        • Sterling Hill
Kampf et al. (1988) +1 other reference
 
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