God for us to design products, we are the porters of nature!

Home | Mineral Specimens | Gem materials | Mineral Datum | Rock | News | Photos | Contact Us
Welcome, please login, or click here to register!
Dominant species
+More..
Variscite
Variscite
Chemical
Formula
AlPO4·2H2O
Species
Phosphates
Crystal
System
Orthorhombic
Mohs
Scale
3-4
Specific
Gravity
2.57-2.61
Color
Green, blue green, yellow green and rarely red
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous, Waxy
Refractive
Index
n = 1.563 n = 1.588 n = 1.594
Diaphaneity
Transparent, Translucent
Cleavage
Distinct/GoodGood on , poor on .
Fracture
Irregular/Uneven, Splintery
Crystal Habit:Encrustations and reniform masses
Geological Setting:Deposited from phosphatic waters reacting with aluminous rocks at surface or near-surface conditions.
Variscite is a hydrated aluminium phosphate mineral (AlPO4·2H2O). It is a relatively rare phosphate mineral. It is sometimes confused with turquoise; however, variscite is usually greener in color.

Variscite is a secondary mineral formed by direct deposition from phosphate-bearing water that has reacted with aluminium-rich rocks in a near-surface environment. It occurs as fine-grained masses in nodules, cavity fillings, and crusts. Variscite often contains white veins of the calcium aluminium phosphate mineral crandallite.

Variscite is sometimes used as a semi-precious stone, and is popular for carvings and ornamental use. It was first described in 1837 and named for the locality of Variscia, the historical name of the Vogtland, in Germany. At one time, variscite was called Utahlite. At times, materials which may be turquoise or may be variscite have been marketed as "variquoise". Appreciation of the color ranges typically found in variscite have made it a popular gem in recent years.

Variscite from Nevada typically contains black spiderwebbing in the matrix and is often confused with green turquoise. Most of the Nevada variscite recovered in recent decades has come from mines located in Lander County.

Notable localities are Lucin, Utah and Fairfield, Utah in the United States. It is also found in Germany, Australia, Poland, Spain and Brazil.