Vantasselite Mineral Data
General Vantasselite Information
Chemical Formula:
Al4(PO4)3(OH)3•9(H2O)
Composition:
Molecular Weight = 606.00 gm
Aluminum 17.81 % Al 33.65 % Al2 O3
Phosphorus 15.33 % P 35.13 % P2 O5
Hydrogen 3.49 % H 31.21 % H2 O
Oxygen 63.36 % O
______ ______
100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
Al4 (PO4 )3 (OH)3 •9(H2 O)
Environment:
On the dumps of a quartzite quarry.
IMA Status:
Approved IMA 1987
Locality:
Stavelot massif, Bihain, Belgium. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
Named for Rene Van Tassel (1916-), mineralogist of phosphate and sulfate minerals.
Name Pronunciation:
Vantasselite + Pronunciation
Vantasselite Image
Images:
Vantasselite Crystallography
Axial Ratios:
a:b:c =0.6364:1:1.2316
Cell Dimensions:
a = 10.528, b = 16.541, c = 20.373, Z = 8; V = 3,547.83 Den(Calc)= 2.27
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic Space Group: Pma2,P 21 am,Pmam
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 10.22(1), 2.892(0.5), 3.395(0.4),
Physical Properties of Vantasselite
Cleavage:
{001} Good
Color:
Pearl white.
Density:
2.3
Diaphaneity:
Transparent to Translucent
Habit:
Rosette - Bundled tabular aggregates resembling rose flower petals.
Hardness:
2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail
Luster:
Greasy (Oily)
Streak:
white
Optical Properties of Vantasselite
Gladstone-Dale:
CI meas = 0.005 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas /KC ) CI calc = -0.009 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc /KC )
KPDcalc = 0.2422,KPDmeas = 0.239,KC = 0.2401 Ncalc = 1.54 - 1.55
Optical Data:
Biaxial (-), a=1.511-1.5111, b=1.56, g=1.578, bire=0.0669-0.0670, 2V(Calc)=60, 2V(Meas)=61.
Calculated Properties of Vantasselite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.35 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Vantasselite =2.30 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0003093864 Boson Index = 0.9996906136
Photoelectric:
PEVantasselite = 1.33 barns/electronU=PEVantasselite x r Electron Density= 3.12 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Vantasselite is Not Radioactive
Vantasselite Classification
Dana Class:
42.12.01.01 (42) Hydrated Phosphates, etc., Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
(42.12) with miscellaneous formulae
(42.12.01) Dana Group
42.12.01.01 Vantasselite Al4(PO4)3(OH)3•9(H2O) Pma2,P 21 am,Pmam Ortho
Strunz Class:
08.DC.37 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
08.D - Phosphates, etc
08.DC -With only medium-sized cations, (OH, etc.):RO4 = 1:1 and < 2:1
08.DC.37 Vantasselite Al4(PO4)3(OH)3•9(H2O) Pma2,P 21 am,Pmam Ortho
Other Vantasselite Information
References:
NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Bull.Miner.,Vol.107-111,1984-1988) OPTIC PROP.(Bull.Miner.,Vol.107-111,1984-1988)
See Also:
Links to other databases for Vantasselite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
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Vantasselite
Al4(PO4)3(OH)3•9(H2O)
Dana No: 42.12.01.01 Strunz No: 08.DC.37
Locality:
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