|
Wavellite |
Chemical Formula |
Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3·5H2O |
Species |
Phosphates |
Crystal System |
Orthorhombic |
Mohs Scale |
3-4 |
Specific Gravity |
2.36 |
Color |
Green to yellowish-green and yellow, brown, white and colorless |
Streak |
White |
Luster |
Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly |
Refractive Index |
n = 1.518 - 1.535 n = 1.524 - 1.543 n = 1.544 - 1.561 |
Diaphaneity |
Transparent, Translucent |
Cleavage |
PerfectPerfect on , good on , distinct on . |
Fracture |
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal |
Crystal Habit:Spherical, radial aggregates; striated prisms; crusty to stalactitic |
Geological Setting:A secondary mineral of aluminous low-grade metamorphic rocks, in phosphate and limonitic deposits; more rarely as a late-forming hydrothermal vein mineral. |
Wavellite is a phosphate mineral with formula Al
3(PO
4)
2(OH, F)
3·5H
2O. It normally occurs as translucent green radial or spherical clusters.
Discovery and occurrence
It was first described in 1805 for an occurrence within the High Down Quarry, Filleigh, Devon, England and named for William Wavell (?-1829) of England who discovered the mineral.
It occurs in association with crandallite and variscite in fractures in aluminous metamorphic rock, in hydrothermal regions and in phosphate rock deposits. It is found in a wide variety of locations notably in the Mount Ida, Arkansas area in the Ouachita Mountains.