Blossite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species

Specific Gravity:

3.95 - 3.97

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Name:

Named in honor of Dr. Fred Donald Bloss (30 May 1920, Chicago, Illinois - 22 April, 2020, Blacksburg, Virginia), mineralogist at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA. He was president of the Mineralogical Society of America, editor of the American Mineralogist and was an expert in optical mineralogy. He wrote several books including 'The Spindle Stage: Principles and Practice'.

Dimorphous with Ziesite
A synthetic δ-Cu2V2O7 is known.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:697:6

897be2a6-4a7d-4483-a19f-390b357f90d6

IMA Classification of BlossiteHide

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Type description reference:

Classification of BlossiteHide

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8.FA.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
F : Polyphosphates, Polyarsenates, [4]-Polyvanadates
A : Polyphosphates, etc., without OH and H2O; dimers of corner-sharing RO4 tetrahedra.

38.5.6.1

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
5 : Miscellaneous

21.1.7

21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
1 : Vanadates of the alkalis and Cu

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Physical Properties of BlossiteHide

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Density:

3.95 - 3.97 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.051 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Comment:

On synthetic material

Optical Data of BlossiteHide

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δ = 0.000

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Anisotropism:

Moderate; grey to creamy grey-brown

Bireflectance:

Weak to moderate; in shades of cream-white

Reflectivity:

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 16.7%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red

Colour in reflected light:

White

Internal Reflections:

Red-brown

Chemistry of BlossiteHide

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Mindat Formula:

α-Cu2(V2O7)

Crystallography of BlossiteHide

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Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

m _m_2 - Pyramidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 20.676(6) Å, b = 8.392(3) Å, c = 6.446(2) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 2.464 : 1 : 0.768

Unit Cell V:

1,118.46 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Equant crysyals

Crystal StructureHide

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X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:

Comments:

Recorded on synthetic α-Cu^2[V^2O^7]; ICDD 26-566

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Type Occurrence of BlossiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:

Equant anhedral crystals, to 150 µm, typically intergrown with other fumarolic copper vanadates

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA (No. 164270)

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Sublimates from the outer zone of a fumarole in the crater of a basaltic composite volcano, probably formed between 100 °C and 200 °C

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Robinson, P.D., Hughes, J.M., Malinconico, M.L. (1987) Blossite, α-Cu2+2V5+2O7, a new fumarolic sublimate from Izalco volcano, El Salvador. American Mineralogist: 72: 397-400.

Synonyms of BlossiteHide

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Other Language Names for BlossiteHide

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Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Other InformationHide

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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 BlossiteHide

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References for BlossiteHide

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Localities for BlossiteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.