CHERVETITE

    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

The best known specimens come from the Mounana uranium deposit (Gabon) which produced crystals up to 2 cm. Chervetite is also known from Príbram (Czech Republic) as well as from Huron River (Michigan) and Ruth Mine (Nevada).

Right photo : Chervetite from Mounana Mine, Mounana, Léboumbi-Leyou Department, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon © Jason B. Smith

Chervetite in France

This mineral is not present in the French underground.

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