CHEMISTRY AlPO4 .2H2O
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Orthorhombic
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Crystals of Variscite are uncommon but when they are found they are typically pseudohexagonal. Normally Variscite is fine grained massive. It may form nodules, crusts or it can be stalactitic or it can form in veins.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Variscite is pale green, dark green, bluish green or shades of yellow to brownish red. Variscite is transparent to translucent.
HARDNESS 4.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 2.5 - 2.6
LUSTER Vitreous to waxy
STREAK White
BREAKABILITY The uncommon crystals of Variscite have 1 good and 1 poor cleavage directions. Massive varieties have uneven to splintery fracture. Glassy varieties (more compact) have conchoidal fracture.
OCCURRENCE Variscite is the product of phosphatic waters coming into contact with aluminum bearing rocks, e.g., in caves by the decay of guano.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Ca rich fluorapatite, crandallite, wardite
NAME Derived from Variscia which is an old name for Vogtland, an area in Germany which provided the first identified specimen.