Cavansite

Cavansite: 2.8 cm cluster on a bed of microcrystalline stilbite

General
Category| Silicate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)| Ca(VO)Si4O10·4(H2O)
IMA symbol| Cav[1]
Crystal system| Orthorhombic
Crystal class| Dipyramidal (mmm)
H–M Symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space group| Pcmn
Unit cell| a = 9.792(2) Å,
b = 13.644(3) Å,
c = 9.629(2) Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color| Brilliant sky-blue to greenish blue
Crystal habit| Radiating acicular prismatic crystals commonly as spherulitic rosettes
Cleavage| Good on {010}
Tenacity| Brittle
Mohs scale hardness| 3 - 4
Luster| Vitreous, pearly
Streak| Bluish-white
Diaphaneity| Transparent
Specific gravity| 2.25 - 2.33
Optical properties| Biaxial (+)
Refractive index| nα = 1.542(2) nβ = 1.544(2) nγ = 1.551(2)
Birefringence| δ = 0.009
Pleochroism| Visible: X=Z= colorless Y= blue
2V angle| Measured: 52°
References| [2][3][4][5]

Cavansite, whose name is derived from its chemical composition, calcium vanadium silicate, is a deep blue hydrous calcium vanadium phyllosilicate mineral, occurring as a secondary mineral in basaltic and andesitic rocks along with a variety of zeolite minerals. Discovered in 1967 in Malheur County, Oregon, cavansite is a relatively rare mineral. It is polymorphic with the even rarer mineral, pentagonite. It is most frequently found in Pune, India and in the Deccan Traps, a large igneous province.

## Contents

* 1 Uses of cavansite
* 2 Associated minerals
* 3 Notes for identification
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## Uses of cavansite[edit]

Although cavansite contains vanadium, and could thus be a possible ore source for the element, it is not generally considered an ore mineral. However, because of its rich color and relative rarity, cavansite is a sought-after collector's mineral.

## Associated minerals[edit]

Cavansite on stilbite from the type locality

* Members of the apophyllite group
* Members of the zeolite group, particularly stilbite
* babingtonite, Ca2Fe2Si5O14OH
* quartz, SiO2
* calcite, CaCO3
* pentagonite, Ca(VO)Si4O10 · 4(H2O)

## Notes for identification[edit]

Stalactitic cavansite, 3.6 x 2.1 x 1.8 cm, Wagholi, Pune District, Maharashtra, India

Cavansite is a distinctive mineral. It tends to form crystal aggregates, generally in the form of balls, up to a couple centimeters in size. Sometimes the balls are coarse enough to allow the individual crystals to be seen. Rarely, cavansite forms bowtie-shaped aggregates. The color of cavansite is distinctive, almost always a rich, bright blue. The color is the same as its dimorph, pentagonite, but the latter is generally much more spikey with bladed crystals. Finally, the associated minerals are useful for identification, as cavansite is frequently found sitting atop a matrix of zeolites or apophyllites.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
2. ^ Mineralienatlas
3. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy
4. ^ Mindat
5. ^ Cavansite Mineral Data, Mineralogy Database webmineral.com

* Mineral galleries
* Evans, H.T. Jr., "The crystal structure of cavansite and pentagonite", American Mineralogist, Vol. 58, pg. 412-424, 1973.
* Makki, M.F., "Collecting cavansite in the Wagholi quarry complex, Pune, Maharashtra, India", The Mineralogical Record, Vol. 36, No. 6, pg. 507-512, Nov-Dec 2005.
* Staples, L.W., Evans, H.T. Jr., and Lindsay, J.R., "Cavansite and pentagonite, new dimorphous calcium vanadium silicate minerals from Oregon", American Mineralogist, Vol. 58, pg 405-411, 1973. http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM58/AM58_405.pdf

## External links[edit]

Media related to Cavansite at Wikimedia Commons