Hughesite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Hughesite
John Hughes
Formula:
Na3Al(V10O28) · 22H2O
Colour:
Orange to golden orange
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine
Hardness:
1
Specific Gravity:
2.29 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Dr. John Michael Hughes (b. 1952), formerly Professor of Mineralogy at Miami University and now Professor of Mineralogy and former Provost at the University of Vermont, for his long and outstanding career in mineralogy, including his extensive work on the pascoite family of minerals and vanadium bronzes.
Type Locality:
This page provides mineralogical data about Hughesite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
42434
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:42434:9
Classification of Hughesite
The Decavanadate Cluster
The decavanadate cluster found in hughesite. The same cluster is known in a number of other secondary vanadium minerals including, for example, gunterite, rakovanite, and postite.
IMA Classification of Hughesite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Na3Al[V5+10O28]·22H2O
Approval year:
2010
First published:
2011
Type description reference:
Rakovan, J., Schmidt, G. R., Gunter, M. E., Nash, B., Marty, J., Kampf, A. R., Wise, W. S. (2011) Hughesite, Na3Al(V10O28)·22H2O, a new member of the pascoite family of minerals from the Sunday Mine, San Miguel County, Colorado. The Canadian Mineralogist, 49 (5) 1253-1265 doi:10.3749/canmin.49.5.1253
4.HC.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
C : [6]-Sorovanadates
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
C : [6]-Sorovanadates
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Hug | 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 Hughesite
Sub-Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Orange to golden orange
Comment:
The thinnest layers of hughesite appear orange, whereas the thickest layers are golden orange.
Streak:
Yellow
Hardness:
1 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Estimated
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
One good direction of cleavage parallel to (001)
One good direction of cleavage parallel to (001)
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
2.29 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Hughesite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.698 nβ = 1.740 nγ = 1.770
2V:
Measured: 84° (2), Calculated: 79°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.072
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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
strong dispersion, with r > v.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Y light golden yellow, and Z dark golden yellow.
Chemistry of Hughesite
Mindat Formula:
Na3Al(V10O28) · 22H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Hughesite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.668 Å, b = 10.295 Å, c = 12.908 Å
α = 105.826°, β = 97.899°, γ = 103.385°
α = 105.826°, β = 97.899°, γ = 103.385°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.842 : 1 : 1.254
Unit Cell V:
1053 ų
Z:
1
Morphology:
Crystals are variable in habit from blocky to spear-shaped and platy.
Crystal Structure
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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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018981 | Hughesite | Rakovan J, Schmidt G R, Gunter M E, Nash B, Marty J, Kampf A R, Wise W S (2011) Hughesite, Na3Al(V10O28)*22H2O, a new member of the pascoite family of minerals from the Sunday mine, San Miguel county, Colorado The Canadian Mineralogist 49 1253-1265 | 2011 | Sunday mine, San Miguel county, Colorado | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 12.24 Å | (100) |
| 9.50 Å | (30) |
| 8.99 Å | (28) |
| 8.25 Å | (38) |
Reference:
Rakovan, J., Schmidt, G. R., Gunter, M. E., Nash, B., Marty, J., Kampf, A. R., Wise, W. S. (2011) Hughesite, Na3Al(V10O28)·22H2O, a new member of the pascoite family of minerals from the Sunday Mine, San Miguel County, Colorado. The Canadian Mineralogist, 49 (5) 1253-1265 doi:10.3749/canmin.49.5.1253
Comments:
The strongest four lines in the powder-diffraction pattern.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Geological Setting:
Hughesite has also been identified on samples from the West Sunday mine, Gypsum Valley, San Miguel County, and the Blue Streak mine in Montrose County, Colorado.
Type Occurrence of Hughesite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Hughesite occurs as crystalline druses on the sandstone walls, usually in organic-carbon-rich zones, of mine workings and on fracture surfaces at the Sunday mine, Gypsum Valley, San Miguel County, Slick Rock District, Colorado, USA.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The holotype specimen, composed of numerous crystals on matrix, resides in the collection of the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution (NMNH #174253).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Colorado Plateau, sandstone hosted, vanadium-uranium, roll front type deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Rakovan, J., Schmidt, G. R., Gunter, M. E., Nash, B., Marty, J., Kampf, A. R., Wise, W. S. (2011) Hughesite, Na3Al(V10O28)·22H2O, a new member of the pascoite family of minerals from the Sunday Mine, San Miguel County, Colorado. The Canadian Mineralogist, 49 (5) 1253-1265 doi:10.3749/canmin.49.5.1253
Synonyms of Hughesite
Other Language Names for Hughesite
Relationship of Hughesite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Pascoite Family:
| Ammoniolasalite | [(NH4)2Mg2(H2O)20] [V10O28] | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Bluestreakite | K4Mg2(V4+2V5+8O28) · 14H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Burroite | Ca2(NH4)2(V10O28) · 15H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Caseyite | [(V5+O2)Al10-x(OH)20-2x(H2O)18-2x]2[H2V4+V5+9O28][V5+10O28]2(Na,K,Ca)2-y(SO4)2-z · (60+8x+y+4z)H2O (x = 0-2.5; y = 0-2; z = 0-2) | Mon. |
| Flatimerite | [Al13(OH)24(H2O)24][V5+9V4+O28] · [(SO4)4(H2O)24] | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Gunterite | Na4Ca(V10O28) · 20H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Huemulite | Na4Mg(V10O28) · 24H2O | Tric. |
| Hummerite | K2Mg2(V10O28) · 16H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Hydropascoite | Ca3(V10O28) · 24H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Kokinosite | Na2Ca2(V10O28) · 24H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Lasalite | Na2Mg2(V10O28) · 20H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
| Magnesiopascoite | Ca2Mg(V10O28) · 16H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
| Nashite | Na3Ca2[(V5+9V4+)O28] · 24H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
| Okieite | Mg3[V10O28] · 28H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O | Mon. 2 : B2 |
| Postite | Mg(H2O)6Al2(OH)2(H2O)8(V10O28) · 13H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pccn |
| Protocaseyite | [Al4(OH)6(H2O)12][V10O28] · 8H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Rakovanite | (NH4)3Na3(V10O28) · 12H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Schindlerite | {(NH4)4Na2(H2O)10}{V10O28} | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Trebiskyite | Na3Mg2[TiV9O28] · 22H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Wernerbaurite | {(NH4)2[Ca2(H2O)14](H2O)2}{V10O28} | Tric. 1 : P1 |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Hughesite associated with Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 5.33H2O |
| 1 photo of Hughesite associated with Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| 1 photo of Hughesite associated with Corvusite | (Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 · 6-10H2O |
| 1 photo of Hughesite associated with Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
| 1 photo of Hughesite associated with Hummerite | K2Mg2(V10O28) · 16H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.HC. | Protocaseyite | [Al4(OH)6(H2O)12][V10O28] · 8H2O |
| 4.HC. | Ammoniolasalite | [(NH4)2Mg2(H2O)20] [V10O28] |
| 4.HC. | Beckettite | Ca2V6Al6O20 |
| 4.HC.05 | Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) · 17H2O |
| 4.HC.05 | Hydropascoite | Ca3(V10O28) · 24H2O |
| 4.HC.05 | Lasalite | Na2Mg2(V10O28) · 20H2O |
| 4.HC.05 | Magnesiopascoite | Ca2Mg(V10O28) · 16H2O |
| 4.HC.05 | Rakovanite | (NH4)3Na3(V10O28) · 12H2O |
| 4.HC.10 | Hummerite | K2Mg2(V10O28) · 16H2O |
| 4.HC.15 | Sherwoodite | Ca5.5(AlV4+V5+12O39) · 28H2O |
| 4.HC.20 | Bluestreakite | K4Mg2(V4+2V5+8O28) · 14H2O |
| 4.HC.25 | Wernerbaurite | {(NH4)2[Ca2(H2O)14](H2O)2}{V10O28} |
| 4.HC.25 | Burroite | Ca2(NH4)2(V10O28) · 15H2O |
| 4.HC.30 | Caseyite | [(V5+O2)Al10-x(OH)20-2x(H2O)18-2x]2[H2V4+V5+9O28][V5+10O28]2(Na,K,Ca)2-y(SO4)2-z · (60+8x+y+4z)H2O (x = 0-2.5; y = 0-2; z = 0-2) |
| 4.HC.35 | Gunterite | Na4Ca(V10O28) · 20H2O |
| 4.HC.40 | Kokinosite | Na2Ca2(V10O28) · 24H2O |
| 4.HC.45 | Nashite | Na3Ca2[(V5+9V4+)O28] · 24H2O |
| 4.HC.50 | Okieite | Mg3[V10O28] · 28H2O |
| 4.HC.55 | Postite | Mg(H2O)6Al2(OH)2(H2O)8(V10O28) · 13H2O |
| 4.HC.60 | Schindlerite | {(NH4)4Na2(H2O)10}{V10O28} |
Other Information
Notes:
Highly soluble in water, acetone and alcohol.
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 Hughesite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-42434.html
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References for Hughesite
Reference List:
Rakovan, J., Schmidt, G. R., Gunter, M. E., Nash, B., Marty, J., Kampf, A. R., Wise, W. S. (2011) Hughesite, Na3Al(V10O28)·22H2O, a new member of the pascoite family of minerals from the Sunday Mine, San Miguel County, Colorado. The Canadian Mineralogist, 49 (5) 1253-1265 doi:10.3749/canmin.49.5.1253
Localities for Hughesite
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.
USA | |
| Kampf et al. (2014) |
| Kampf et al. (2019) |
| Kampf et al. (2013) |
| Collected by and in the collection of ... | |
| www.handbookofmineralogy.org (2015) | |
| Rakovan et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
| Kasatkin et al. (2015) |
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Little Eva Mine, Yellow Cat Mesa, Thompsons Mining District, Grand County, Utah, USA