Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
variscite

Chemical Group:    phosphate

Chemical Formula:    AlPO₄.2H₂O

Color:   green                                                                         

Hardness:  4                 Specific Gravity:  2.5                
 

Crystal Forms: Orthorhombic system
     Octahedral habit, but crystals are very rare.
     Most commonly occurs as crystalline aggregates or reniform encrustations.

Mineral Associations:  clay

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:  gemstone  (resembles a green turquoise)

Occurrences: 
 USA occurrences
 Utah
      Utahlite mine, Fairfield
      Lucin, Box Elder County
      Amatrice Hill, Toole County
 Nevada
      Crescent Valley, Lander County
      Candelaria mountains
      Excelsior mountains
      Shoshone range
      Snowville
 Arizona
      Bisbee
 WORLD-WIDE occurrences
 Germany
      Variscia
 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- moderate         when inhaled- moderate

Additional Information: