Wavellite

Wavellite is a radiating mineral popular with collectors due to its gorgeous crystalline forms.

It is typically a mixture of shades of green to yellow-green, although some specimens are colourless, white, or brown.

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Appearance, Uses and History

Wavellite is named after William Wavell, who discovered the mineral in a quarry in Devonshire, UK.

It is a classic radiating mineral – if not ‘the’ radiating mineral.

It is a bit of an odd one for collectors; typically, serious mineral collectors will aim to exclusively purchase undamaged, perfect specimens. However, when the spheres and balls of Wavellite are intact, the radial structure inside cannot be seen.

At least one spherule needs to be fractured in order to see the amazing radial habits of this mineral.

Wavellite is generally used purely for mineral specimens, although in some cases, it is cut en cabochon for jewellery usage.

 

Locales

Wavellite specimens have been found in Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Czechia, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, the UK, and the USA.

Personally, my favourite locales for this material are the UK and the USA.

Mineralogy

Chemistry
An Aluminium phosphate mineral with the formula Al3(PO4)2(OH)3-(H2O)5.
Colours and Variations
Almost always green, although sometimes white, colourless, yellow, or brown.
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous
Fracture
Subconchoidal, fibrous, uneven
Transparency
Translucent to opaque.
Crystal habit
Almost exclusively consists of radiating acicular crystals, globules, stalactites, or botryoidal masses.
Mohs hardness
3.5 – 4.0
Specific Gravity
2.3 – 2.4
Fluorescence
Sometimes may be yellow or blue under longwave UV.
Easiest testing method
Visual examination, crystalline habit.
Common Treatments
N/A

Photos of Wavellite

Wavellite-147471
Wavellite-149392
Wavellite-41804
Wavellite-Quartz-51161
Wavellite-148268
Wavellite (Arkansas - USA)
Wavellite (Arkansas - USA) 2
Wavellite-120497
Wavellite-147477

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.

Translations

Arabic:

Hindi:

Portuguese:

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

Italian:

Russian:

  • Вавеллит

French:

Japanese:

Spanish:

  • wavellita

German:

  • Wavellit

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin and Traditional Chinese:

  • 銀星石

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links