Green Radial Wavellite

Green Radial Wavellite. From Mauldin Mt., Montgomery Co., Arkansas, USA Photo Credit: Andreas Schmid

Wavellite

 Formula: Al₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₃·5H₂O
System: Orthorhombic
Colour: Green to yellowish-green ...
Lustre: Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Hardness: 3½ - 4

Wavellite is a very attractive mineral, well-known to collectors. Its radial aggregate crystal clusters can be cut into extremely interesting stones.

Wavellite exhibits different shades of green, which range from dark emerald green, apple green, bright green, to pale green.
It usually occurs in globular or hemispherical aggregates of botryoidal crusts on matrix, radiating crystals, or stalactitic deposits.

This stone also forms as a secondary mineral in crevices of aluminous, metaphoric, low-grade rocks. Wavellite is a translucent stone with a vitreous to resinous or pearly luster.

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.

It’s named after the English physician who first discovered it, William Wavell.

Comments
When broken across the spheres, wavellite exhibits a radial crystalline structure - the local old timers call it "cats-eye". Color may vary from light to dark green at this locale, the intensity of the color is due to how much vanadium is present in the structure of the mineral.


See Also:
Where to Find Sunstone in Oregon?
Different Types and Colours of Moonstone
What Is Pseudomorph Mineral?