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| Formula: | Fe3(PO4)2 •8H2O |  Click to see a larger image |
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| Crystal: | Monoclinic | |||
| Hardness: | 1.5-2 | |||
| Spec. Gr.: | 2.68 | |||
| Streak: | White | |||
| Cleavage: | Perfect cleavage in one direction | |||
| Location: | Llallagua, Boliva |
| Vivianite is a hydrous ferrous phosphate. An uncommon mineral, but one that forms near the earth's surface when waters charged with phosphoric acid act on primary ores of pyrite and other minerals rich in iron. It forms in beautiful, well-crystallized tabular green crystals at St. Agnews, Cornwall, England; Llallagua, Bolivia; and in enormous crystals, up to a meter in length, at Anloua, Cameroon. Interesting crystals have formed within fossil shells (particularly clams), and bones in peat iron ore in Kerez, Crimea, USSR. |
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Bibliography: Svenek, Jaroslav, Minerals, 1987, pg. 162-163. |
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