Cavansite

Cavansite is a fairly rare blue mineral, found only in a few pieces worldwide. Due to its rarity and strong colours, it is very popular with collectors.

Our specimens are available in a couple of different sizes.

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Appearance

Cavansite is a very distinctive mineral which often forms in a bright blue colour and often occurs on top of members of the zeolite and apophyllite groups.


Uses and History

As far as I am aware Cavansite is only really used as a mineral specimen. It does contain Vanadium but not at a high enough concentration to be used as an ore.

Cavansite takes its name from CAlcium VANadium SIlicate – CaVanSi.

The type locality (original find location) is Owyhee Dam, Lake Owyhee State Park, Malheur County, Oregon, USA.


Mineralogy

Chemistry
Calcium vanadium silicate with the chemical formula Ca(VO)Si4O10·4(H2O).
Colours and Variations

Brilliant, bright blue to an aqua blue.

Streak
Blue-white
Luster
Vitreous, pearly
Fracture
Crystal system
Orthorhombic
Crystal habit
Radiating acicular crystals, occurs within Basalt vesicules.
Mohs hardness
3-4
Specific Gravity
2.25-2.33
Easiest testing method
Visual inspection, locale. Fake Cavansite does exist but is uncommon.
Common associations
Often found along with stilbite, calcite, heulandite, mordenite, pentagonite, analcime, apophyllite, thomsonite

Hazards and Warnings

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis. When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.


Locales

 

Asia


  • Wagholi Quarries, Wagholi, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Various workings, Pune area, Maharashtra, India

Australasia/Oceania


  • Aranga Quarry, Aranga, Kaipara District, New Zealand
North America


  • Owyhee Dam, Lake Owyhee State Park, Malheur County, Oregon, USA

Translations

Arabic:

Hindi:

Portuguese:

  • cavansita

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

Italian:

Russian:

  • Кавансит

French:

Japanese:

Spanish:

  • Cavansita

German:

  • Cavansit

Korean:

Thai:

  • คาวานไซต์

Gujurati:

Mandarin Chinese:

  • 钙锰矿

Urdu:


Further Reading / External Links