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Vertumnite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Vertumnite
Vertumnus
Formula:
Ca4Al4Si4O6(OH)24 · 3H2O
Colour:
Colourless, green
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
5
Specific Gravity:
2.15
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
From "Vertumnus", a shape-shifting Etruscan god (named "Voltumna" by the Etruscans) adopted by the Romans around 300 BC. The Etruscans originally (before being conquered by the Romans) inhabited the region where the mineral was first found. Vertumnus was a "rural" god of "mutation" and the protector of the evolution of fruit towards maturity.
This page provides mineralogical data about Vertumnite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4174
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4174:0
IMA Classification of Vertumnite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Ca4Al4Si4O6(OH)24·3H2O
Approval year:
1975
First published:
1977
Classification of Vertumnite
9.EG.25
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
G : Double nets with 6-membered and larger rings
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
G : Double nets with 6-membered and larger rings
73.1.6.1
73 : PHYLLOSILICATES Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets
1 : Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets with double layers
73 : PHYLLOSILICATES Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets
1 : Condensed Tetrahedral Sheets with double layers
16.9.21
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
9 : Aluminosilicates of Ca
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vtn | 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 Vertumnite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, green
Streak:
White
Hardness:
5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.15(4) g/cm3 (Measured) 2.15 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vertumnite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.531(1) nβ = 1.535(1) nγ = 1.541(2)
2V:
Measured: 62° (5), Calculated: 80°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.010
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:
None to Very Low
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.
Dispersion:
r < v moderate
Comments:
Rarely uniaxial negative.
X = c, Z △ b = 16° in the obtuse angle.
X = c, Z △ b = 16° in the obtuse angle.
Chemistry of Vertumnite
Mindat Formula:
Ca4Al4Si4O6(OH)24 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Sr,Ba,Na,K,P
Crystallography of Vertumnite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Setting:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.744(5) Å, b = 5.766(5) Å, c = 25.120(1) Å
γ = 119.72(5)°
γ = 119.72(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.996 : 1 : 4.357
Unit Cell V:
0.00 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Flattened hexagonal prisms.
Twinning:
Cyclic contact plane parallel to {001}, common.
Comment:
Strongly pseudohexagonal (a = 5.75 Å, c = 25.1 Å).
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0015668 | Vertumnite | Galli E, Passaglia E (1978) Vertumnite: its crystal structure and relationship with natural and synthetic phases Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen 25 33-46 | 1978 | Campomorto, Montalto di Castro | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.187 Å | (100) |
| 12.51 Å | (70) |
| 6.275 Å | (65) |
| 2.873 Å | (17) |
| 4.275 Å | (16) |
| 2.436 Å | (11) |
| 2.077 Å | (10) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
| 8 : Mafic igneous rocks | |
| 10 : Basalt-hosted zeolite minerals |
Type Occurrence of Vertumnite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Transparent, flattened, hexagonal prisms, up to 4 mm thick, resting on tobermorite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Municipal Museum of Natural History, Milan, Italy
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Cavity in a phonolite
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Vertumnite
Other Language Names for Vertumnite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Vertumnite associated with Strätlingite | Ca2Al(Si,Al)2O2(OH)10 · 2.25H2O |
| 2 photos of Vertumnite associated with Ettringite | Ca6Al2(SO4)3(OH)12 · 26H2O |
| 1 photo of Vertumnite associated with Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| 1 photo of Vertumnite associated with Melilite Group | A2M(XSiO7) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.EG.05 | Cymrite | BaAl2Si2(O,OH)8 · H2O |
| 9.EG.10 | Naujakasite | (Na,K)6(Fe2+,Mn2+,Ca)(Al,Fe)4Si8O26 |
| 9.EG.10 | Manganonaujakasite | Na6(Mn2+,Fe2+)Al4Si8O26 |
| 9.EG.15 | Dmisteinbergite | Ca(Al2Si2O8) |
| 9.EG.20 | Kampfite | Ba12(Si11Al5)O31(CO3)8Cl5 |
| 9.EG.30 | Eggletonite | (Na,K,Ca)xMn6(Si,Al)10O24(OH)4 · nH2O (x = 1-2; n = 7-11) |
| 9.EG.30 | Ganophyllite | (K,Na)xMn2+6(Si,Al)10O24(OH)4 · nH2O (x = 1-2; n = 7-11) |
| 9.EG.30 | Tamaite | (Ca,K,Na)xMn6(Si,Al)10O24(OH)4 · nH2O (x = 1-2; n = 7-11) |
| 9.EG.35 | Zussmanite | K(Fe,Mg,Mn)13(Si,Al)18O42(OH)14 |
| 9.EG.35 | Coombsite | KMn2+13(Si,Al)18O42(OH)14 |
| 9.EG.40 | 'Chalcodite' | K(Fe3+,Mg,Fe2+)8(Si,Al)12(O,OH)27 |
| 9.EG.40 | Parsettensite | (K,Na,Ca)7.5(Mn,Mg)49Si72O168(OH)50 · nH2O |
| 9.EG.40 | Lennilenapeite | K4Mn2+48[Si64Al8]O164(OH)52 · nH2O |
| 9.EG.40 | Stilpnomelane | K4Fe2+48[Si64Al8]O164(OH)52 · nH2O |
| 9.EG.45 | Latiumite | (Ca,K)4(Si,Al)5O11(SO4,CO3) |
| 9.EG.45 | Levantite | KCa3Al2(SiO4)(Si2O7)(PO4) |
| 9.EG.45 | Tuscanite | KCa6(Si,Al)10O22(SO4,CO3)2(OH) · H2O |
| 9.EG.50 | Jagoite | Pb18Fe3+4[Si4(Si,Fe3+)6][Pb4Si16(Si,Fe)4]O82Cl6 |
| 9.EG.50 | Friisite | Pb8Al3Si8O27Cl3 |
| 9.EG.55 | Wickenburgite | CaPb3Al2Si10O24(OH)6 |
| 9.EG.60 | Hyttsjöite | Pb18Ba2Ca5Mn2+2Fe3+2Si30O90Cl · 6H2O |
| 9.EG.65 | Armbrusterite | K5Na7Mn15[(Si9O22)4](OH)10 · 4H2O |
| 9.EG.70 | Roymillerite | Pb24Mg9(Si10O28)(CO3)10(BO3)(SiO4)(OH)13O5 |
| 9.EG.70 | Britvinite | [Pb7(OH)3F(BO3)2(CO3)][Mg4.5(OH)3(Si5O14)] |
| 9.EG.75 | Kayupovaite | Na2Mn10[(Si14Al2)O38(OH)8] · 7H2O |
| 9.EG.75 | 'UM1989-30-SiO:AlBaCaFeHKMgMn' | (Ba,Ca)(Mn,Fe,Mg)22(Si,Al)32O76(OH)16 · 12H2O |
| 9.EG.75 | Bannisterite | CaMn2+10(Si14Al2)O38(OH)8 · nH2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in cold HCl.
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 Vertumnite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4174.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Vertumnite
Reference List:
Passaglia, E., Galli, E. (1977) Vertumnite, a new natural silicate. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 24 (1). 57-66 doi:10.1007/bf01081745
Fleischer, Michael, Pabst, Adolf, Mandarino, J. A., Chao, George Y. (1977) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 62 (9-10) 1057-1061
Passaglia, E., Galli, E. (1977) Vertumnite, a new natural silicate. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 24 (1). 57-66 doi:10.1007/bf01081745
Galli, E., Passaglia, E. (1978) Vertumnite: Its crystal structure and relationship with natural and synthetic phases. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 25 (1). 33-46 doi:10.1007/bf01082202
Localities for Vertumnite
Showing 11 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.
Austria | |
| Postl et al. (2012) |
Germany | |
| Falkenstein (2010) |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer | |
| Skrzyńska et al. (2023) | |
| Blaß et al. (2002) +1 other reference |
| Blaß et al. (1996) |
Italy | |
| Caponera et al. (2007) |
| Pucci (2004) +1 other reference |
| Passaglia et al. (1982) |
| Wheeler et al. (1996) +1 other reference |
Quick NavTopAbout VertumniteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Caspar quarry, Ettringen, Vordereifel, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany