Volborthite

3+1⁄2LusterVitreous, waxy, greasy, pearlyStreaklight greenDiaphaneityTranslucentSpecific gravity3.5 - 3.8Optical propertiesBiaxial (+/-)Refractive indexnα = 1.793 nβ = 1.801 nγ = 1.816Birefringenceδ = 0.023PleochroismWeak2V angleMeasured: 63° to 83°DispersionTranslucent to SubtranslucentUltraviolet fluorescenceNon-fluorescentSolubilitySoluble in acidsReferences[2][3][4]

Volborthite is a mineral containing copper and vanadium, with the formula Cu3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O. Found originally in 1838 in the Urals, it was first named knaufite but was later changed to volborthite for Alexander von Volborth (1800–1876), a Russian paleontologist.[5]

Tangeite (synonym: calciovolborthite), CaCuVO4(OH), is closely related.

Occurrence

Volborthite was first described in 1837 for an occurrence in the Sofronovskii Mine, Yugovskii Zavod, Perm, Permskaya Oblast, Middle Urals, Russia.[3]

It occurs as an uncommon oxidation mineral in vanadium bearing hydrothermal copper ores. It is associated with brochantite, malachite, atacamite, tangeite, chrysocolla, baryte and gypsum.[2]

References

  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. ^ a b Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ^ a b Mindat with location data
  4. ^ Webmineral
  5. ^ Mineral Galleries


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