Vesuvianite

Vesuvianite is a calcium aluminium silicate mineral named after Mount Vesuvius in Italy. It is typically used for mineral specimens, but is also sometimes cut or faceted for use as a gemstone.

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Information about Vesuvianite

Uses and History

Vesuvianite has no significant industrial usages but fine quality specimens are prized by mineral collectors and sometimes cut into gemstones.

It was named Vesuvianite in 1795 by Abraham Gottlob Werner after crystals were found in Monte Somma.

Several other names have been applied to the species, one of which was idocrase, by René Just Haüy in 1796.

Mineralogy

Chemistry
A calcium aluminium silicate mineral with the chemical formula (Ca,Na)19(Al,Mg,Fe)13(SiO4)10(Si2O7)4(OH,F,O)10.
Colours and Variations
Can be most colours, including yellows, greens, browns, colourless, blue, purple, pink, red, black.
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous to resinous
Transparency
Transparent to translucent
Fracture
Subconchoidal to irregular
Crystal habit
Prismatic crystals, massive, columnar.
Mohs hardness
6-7
Fluorescence
Specific Gravity
3.32 – 3.43
Easiest testing method
Often striated crystals, resistance to acids

Hazards and Warnings

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

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.

Translations

Arabic:

  • فيسوفيانيت

Hindi:

  • वेसुवियनाइट

Portuguese:

Bengali:

  • ভেসুভিয়ানাইট

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

  • Vesuvianite

Italian:

Russian:

  • Везувианит

French:

  • Vésuvianite

Japanese:

  • ベスビアナイト

Spanish:

  • Idocrasa

German:

  • Vesuvianit

Korean:

  • 베수비아나이트

Thai:

  • ไอโดเครส

Gujurati:

  • वेसुवियनाइट

Mandarin Chinese:

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links