Vauxite

vauxite

wavellite

paravauxite

metavauxite

Images

Formula: Fe²⁺Al₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂.6H₂O
Hydrated phosphate containing hydroxyl
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.39 to 2.4 measured, 2.4 calculated
Hardness: 3½
Streak: White
Colour: Sky-blue, dark blue, pale blue in transmitted light
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Vauxite is a secondary mineral derived from the alteration of apatite and associated with wavellite (Mindat, HOM).

Localities

At the type locality, the Siglo Veinte mine, Llallagua, Rafael Bustillo, Potosí, Bolivia, vauxite occurs in hydrothermal tin veins, associated with wavellite and paravauxite (HOM, Dana, Mindat), and also quartz, marcasite, metavauxite, allophane, crandallite and rarely cassiterite. Vauxite is the latest mineral to form in the sequence wavellite-metavauxite-paravauxite-vauxite (Minrec 37.2.155-156).

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