Chemical variation in vesuvianite

Abstract

Microprobeanalyses of 44 vesuvianite specimens of different color, morphology, and occurrence indicate the chemical variation of the species. Vesuvianites can be divided into four types, based on chemistry and color; most vesuvianites can be assigned to one of these types with confidence. Type 1 vesuvianites contain ≈ 2 atoms of Mg, 2.5 atoms of Mg, variable (divalent?) Fe, and <0.5 atoms of Ti. In color they are yellow, yellow-brown, or yellow-green. Type 3 vesuvianites contain divalent Fe, 0.5 to 1.5 atoms of Ti and close to 18 atoms of Si (full occupancy of tetrahedral sites). They are yellow, brown, red-brown, or black. Type 4 vesuvianites are manganoan or cuprian; the studied samples are from Pajsberg, Sweden, Franklin, New Jersey, and Telemark, Norway. In color they are red-brown, purple, blue (“cyprine”), or green. Iron and much of the Mn is apparently trivalent.