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Variscite

Year of discovery: 1837 (Meßbach quarry, Germany), 1963 (Japan)

Locality list: 13 localities of variscite

• AlPO₄,2H₂O
• [Al³⁺][PO₄]^3-,2H₂O

• Class: Variscite group
• Class: Phosphate - Hydrate
• Variety: Redondite (Messbach-type)
• Soluble in: HCl (Slightly), KOH, NaOH
• Fluorescence: Long UV excitation (Green)

• Polymorph: Metavariscite (Monoclinic)

• Al => Fe: Strengite (Series), Phosphosiderite
• Al => Sc: Kolbeckite

• PO₄ => AsO₄: Mansfieldite

• 2H₂O => []: Berlinite

• Color: Pale green, Pale blue, Colorless
• Tarnish: Blue, Purple (after heating)
• Streak: White
• Luster: Vitreous
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Cleavage: Good on {010} (1 plane), Poor on {001} (1 plane)
• Hardness: 3.5-4.5
• Density: 2.6

• System: Orthorhombic
• Group: mmm, Pbca
• Lattice: a=9.8, b=8.6, c=9.6

Etymology: Variscian district, old name of Voktland district in Germany