Vanderheydenite
A valid IMA mineral species
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Arnold van der Heyden
Formula:
Zn6(PO4)2(SO4)(OH)4 · 7H2O
Colour:
Colorless
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.06 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Arnold van der Heyden (b. 1959, Melbourne, Australia) who worked as a mine geologist at Broken Hill for the former Minerals Mining and Metallurgy Ltd from December 1985 until June 1991, "in recognition of his contribution to the understanding of the secondary mineralogy of the Broken Hill ore body by the systematic collecting of specimens from the oxidized zone."
New structure type.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46520
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46520:3
IMA Classification of Vanderheydenite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Zn2+6(PO4)2(S6+O4)(OH)4·7H2O
Approval year:
2014
First published:
2018
Classification of Vanderheydenite
8.DO.60
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
O : With CO3, SO4, SiO4
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
D : Phosphates, etc. with additional anions, with H2O
O : With CO3, SO4, SiO4
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Vhy | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Vanderheydenite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colorless
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
3.06 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Calculated density is 3.12 g/cm-3 from the empirical formula and 3.06 g/cm-3 from the ideal formula.
Optical Data of Vanderheydenite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.565(4) nβ = 1.580(4) nγ = 1.582(4)
2V:
Calculated: 39.8°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.017
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Chemistry of Vanderheydenite
Mindat Formula:
Zn6(PO4)2(SO4)(OH)4 · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Vanderheydenite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/n
Cell Parameters:
a = 6.2040(12) Å, b = 19.619(4) Å, c = 7.7821(16) Å
β = 90.67(3)°
β = 90.67(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.316 : 1 : 0.397
Unit Cell V:
947.1 ų
Morphology:
Pseudohexagonal blades up to 0.4 mm in length, flattened on {100} and exhibiting the forms {100}, {010}, and {021}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 9.826 Å | (66) |
| 7.296 Å | (14) |
| 6.134 Å | (100) |
| 4.368 Å | (10) |
| 3.368 Å | (15) |
| 3.069 Å | (15) |
| 2.778 Å | (10) |
| 2.648 Å | (10) |
Locality:
Reference:
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] |
Type Occurrence of Vanderheydenite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Aggregates of colourless crystals up to 0.5 mm across in voids of a sphalerite–galena matrix
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the South Australian Museum, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, registration number G32512
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(Zn5.99Cu0.01Fe0.01Mn0.01)Σ6.02[(PO4)1.75(AsO4)0.33]Σ2.08(SO4)0.95(OH)3.91·6.96H2O
Chemical Analysis of Type Material:
| ZnO | 55.63 % |
|---|---|
| CuO | 0.07 % |
| FeO | 0.11 % |
| MnO | 0.06 % |
| P2O5 | 14.18 % |
| As2O5 | 4.33 % |
| SO3 | 8.71 % |
| H2O | 18.31 % |
| Total: | 101.4 % |
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Sulfide in gneiss
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Vanderheydenite
Other Language Names for Vanderheydenite
Dutch:Vanderheydeniet
German:Vanderheydenit
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.DO. | Whiterockite | CaMgMn3+3O2(PO4)2(CO3)F · 5H2O |
| 8.DO.05 | Girvasite | NaCa2Mg3(PO4)3(CO3)(H2O)6 |
| 8.DO.10 | Voggite | Na2Zr(PO4)(CO3)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.DO.15 | Peisleyite | Na2Al9[(P,S)O4]8(OH)6 · 28H2O |
| 8.DO.20 | Perhamite | Ca3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)14.1 · 8H2O |
| 8.DO.20 | Krásnoite | Ca3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)12.1F2 · 8H2O |
| 8.DO.25 | Saryarkite-(Y) | Ca(Y,Th)Al5(SiO4)2(PO4,SO4)2(OH)7 · 6H2O |
| 8.DO.30 | Micheelsenite | (Ca2Y)Al(PO3OH)(CO3)(OH)6 · 12H2O |
| 8.DO.40 | Parwanite | (Na,K)(Mg,Ca)4Al8(PO4)8(CO3)(OH)7 · 30H2O |
| 8.DO.45 | Skorpionite | Ca3Zn2(PO4)2(CO3)(OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.DO.50 | Jörgkellerite | (Na,◻)3Mn3+3(PO4)2(CO3)(O,OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.DO.55 | Juansilvaite | Na5Al3[AsO3(OH)]4[AsO2(OH)2]2(SO4)2 · 4H2O |
Fluorescence of Vanderheydenite
None
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Vanderheydenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46520.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Vanderheydenite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2015) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014 and 2015. Newsletter No 23. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (1) 51-58 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.1.05
Localities for Vanderheydenite
Showing 1 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2015) +1 other reference |
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