Corvusite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Corvusite
Formula:
(Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 Β· 6-10H2O
Colour:
Blue-black, brown
Hardness:
2½ - 3
Specific Gravity:
2.82
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
From "corvus", raven, in allusion to the color.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1138
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1138:5
IMA Classification of Corvusite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
(Na,Ca,K)1-x(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 Β· 4H2O
First published:
1933
Classification of Corvusite
4.HE.20
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
E : Phyllovanadates
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
E : Phyllovanadates
47.3.2.2
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
47 : VANADIUM OXYSALTS
3 : Hydrated Normal Vanadium Oxysalts
7.12.11
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
12 : Oxides of V, Nb and Ta
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
12 : Oxides of V, Nb and Ta
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAβCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Cvu | IMAβCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAβCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Corvusite
Transparency:
Opaque
Comment:
Lusterous
Colour:
Blue-black, brown
Streak:
Blue-black to brown
Hardness:
2½ - 3 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.82 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.02 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Corvusite
Type:
Biaxial
Reflectivity:
Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
---|---|---|
400nm | 10.3% | 20.7% |
420nm | 9.8% | 19.8% |
440nm | 9.3% | 18.9% |
460nm | 9.0% | 18.0% |
480nm | 8.7% | 17.3% |
500nm | 8.5% | 16.6% |
520nm | 8.4% | 16.0% |
540nm | 8.2% | 15.6% |
560nm | 8.2% | 15.1% |
580nm | 8.1% | 14.7% |
600nm | 8.0% | 14.3% |
620nm | 8.0% | 14.0% |
640nm | 8.0% | 13.7% |
660nm | 8.0% | 13.5% |
680nm | 8.0% | 13.4% |
700nm | 8.0% | 13.3% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 20.7%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Chemistry of Corvusite
Mindat Formula:
(Na,K,Ca,Mg)2(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 Β· 6-10H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Corvusite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.706 Å, b = 3.644 Å, c = 11.11 Å
β = 103.47°
β = 103.47°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 3.212 : 1 : 3.049
Unit Cell V:
460.88 Γ
Β³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Morphology:
Massive.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
10.82 Γ | (100) |
3.590 Γ | (6) |
3.464 Γ | (18) |
3.255 Γ | (2) |
2.595 Γ | (3) |
1.934 Γ | (4) |
1.819 Γ | (6) |
Comments:
Very similar to the data for fernandinite.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Corvusite
Co-Type Localities:
General Appearance of Type Material:
Massive, but slickenside action can make it appear fibrous. With numerous shrinkage cracks.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 96806.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 96806.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Uranium and vandadium mineralization in fossil vegitation in sandstone.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Corvusite
Other Language Names for Corvusite
Dutch:Corvusiet
German:Corvusit
Russian:ΠΠΎΡΠ²ΡΡΠΈΡ
Simplified Chinese:ζ°΄ε€ιηΏ
Spanish:Corvusita
Traditional Chinese:ζ°΄εΎ©ι©η€¦
Relationship of Corvusite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Straczekite Group:
Bariandite | Al0.6(V5+,V4+)8O20 Β· 9H2O | Mon. |
Bokite | (Al,Fe)1.3(V5+,V4+,Fe3+)8O20 Β· 7.5H2O | Mon. |
Fernandinite | (Ca,K)(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 Β· 10H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Straczekite | (Ca,K,Ba)(V5+,V4+)8O20 Β· 3H2O | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
17 photos of Corvusite associated with Montroseite | (V3+,Fe3+)O(OH) |
12 photos of Corvusite associated with Pascoite | Ca2Ca(V10O28) Β· 17H2O |
6 photos of Corvusite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
5 photos of Corvusite associated with Lasalite | Na2Mg2(V10O28) Β· 20H2O |
4 photos of Corvusite associated with Metahewettite | CaV6O16 Β· 3H2O |
4 photos of Corvusite associated with Sandstone | |
3 photos of Corvusite associated with Rossite | Ca(VO3)2 Β· 4H2O |
3 photos of Corvusite associated with Pascoite Group | |
3 photos of Corvusite associated with Schindlerite | {(NH4)4Na2(H2O)10}{V10O28} |
3 photos of Corvusite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 Β· 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
4.HE.05 | Melanovanadite | Ca(V5+,V4+)4O10 Β· 5H2O |
4.HE.10 | Shcherbinaite | V5+2O5 |
4.HE.15 | Hewettite | CaV6O16 Β· 9H2O |
4.HE.15 | Metahewettite | CaV6O16 Β· 3H2O |
4.HE.20 | Bariandite | Al0.6(V5+,V4+)8O20 Β· 9H2O |
4.HE.20 | Bokite | (Al,Fe)1.3(V5+,V4+,Fe3+)8O20 Β· 7.5H2O |
4.HE.20 | Fernandinite | (Ca,K)(V5+,V4+,Fe2+)8O20 Β· 10H2O |
4.HE.20 | Straczekite | (Ca,K,Ba)(V5+,V4+)8O20 Β· 3H2O |
4.HE.25 | HΓ€ggite | V3+V4+O2(OH)3 |
4.HE.30 | Doloresite | V4+3O4(OH)4 |
4.HE.35 | Duttonite | V4+O(OH)2 |
4.HE.40 | Cavoite | CaV4+3O7 |
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 Corvusite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1138.html
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References for Corvusite
Reference List:
Henderson, Edward P., Hess, Frank L. (1933) Corvusite and rilandite, new minerals from the Utah-Colorado carnotite region. American Mineralogist, 18 (5) 195-205
Evans, Howard T., Jr.,, Hughes, John M. (1990) Crystal chemistry of the natural vanadium bronzes. American Mineralogist, 75 (5-6) 508-521
Localities for Corvusite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
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Temple Mountain Mining District, Emery County, Utah, USA