May 8 2013
Minasragrite is named after the Minasragra locality in Peru where it was first found. Where it was discovered in 1915.
Properties of Minasragrite
The key physical properties of Minasragrite are as below:
- Cell Data
- Space group: P21/a
- a = 12.902(4)
- b=9.716(5)
- c=6.976(2)
- Z = [4]
- Crystal Data
- Monoclinic
- Point group: 2/m
- Crystals – minute equant crystals that show {001}, {110}, {011}, {101}, {111}; in spherulites and granular masses in delicate efflourescences.
- X-ray powder pattern: Minasragra, Peru.
5.135 (100), 3.907 (70), 5.431 (60), 3.826 (35), 3.658 (24), 6.049 (20), 3.509 (17)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
| SO3 |
32 |
31.64 |
| V2O5 |
3 |
- |
| V2O4 |
29.8 |
32.77 |
| H2O |
34.5 |
35.59 |
| Insol |
0.6 |
- |
- Optical Properties
- Semitransparent
- Optical class- Biaxial (-)
- Lustre – Vitreous
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density)= 2.07 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Minasragrite = 2.03 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PEMinasragrite = 4.51 barns/electron
U=PEMinasragrite x ρelectron density= 9.32 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.001
Boson index = 0.99 |
Radioactivity
|
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Minasragrite is not radioactive |
How to Identify Minasragrite
Minasragrite is a vivid cobalt blue colored to aquamarine-blue. It appears blue in transmitted light. It is easily soluble in cold water and exhibits a vitreous lustre. Its hardness ranges between 1 and 2.
Global Distribution
Minasragrite is can be found in the following locations:
- USA – from North Mesa mine group, Temple mountain district and Emery County, Utah
- Peru – Minasragra, Cerro de Pasco.
Occurrence of Minasragrite and Useful Mineral Association
Minasragrite occurs as an alteration product of patronite in a rich deposit of vanadium materials and in fissures that cut red shales that were probably filled by a remobilized asphalt deposit; in a silicified tree, formed as an oxidation product of pyrite reacting with vanadium-rich organic material. It is commonly associated with minerals like patronite, melanterite, morenosite, retgersite, potassium alum, gypsum, orthominasgarite, pyrite, szomolnokite, sulfur, iron sulfate.
References