Chervetite - Encyclopedia
Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
Subclass : Anhydrous vanadates
Crystal system : Monoclinic
Chemistry : Pb2V2O7
Rarity : Very rare
Chervetite is a very rare vanadate that is found in the oxidation zone of lead and vanadium deposits : often these are uranium deposits in which these two metals are common enough to form this specific mineral. Its name was given to it in honor of the French mineralogist Jean Chervet. Its crystals are elongated prismatic to lamellar, yellow in color, sometimes brownish gray to brown.
Main photo : Chervetite from Mounana Mine, Mounana, Léboumbi-Leyou Department, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon © Michel Arliguie
Chervetite in the World
Twinning
No twins known for this mineral species.
Fakes and treatments
No fake identified for this mineral species.
Hardness : 2 to 2.5
Density : 6.30 to 6.49
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : White
TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 2,250 to 2,410
Birefringence : 0.160
Optical character : Biaxial -
Pleochroism : Low
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : -
Magnetism : None
Radioactivity : None