Gottlobite

Gottlobite
General
CategoryHydroxide mineral, Vanadate mineral
FormulaCaMg(VO4)(OH)
IMA symbolGot
Strunz classification08.BH.35
Dana classification41.05.01.10
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Space groupP222
Unit cella = 7.501(4) Å; b = 9.010(7) Å; c = 5.941(4) Å; Z = 4, V = 401.5Å3
Identification
Formula mass205.20 gm
ColorOrange to orange-brown
Crystal habitIsometric to tabular crystals
TwinningNot observed
CleavageNot observed
FractureConchoidal to irregular
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness4.5
LusterVitreous to adamantine
StreakLight brownish
DiaphaneityTransparent
Specific gravity3.46 g/cm3 (calculated)
Optical propertiesBiaxial negative
Refractive indexnα = 1.797 nβ = 1.805-1.815 nγ = 1.828
PleochroismMedium strong with X = orange-brown, Y = pale yellowish brown, and Z = orange-brown
GroupVandates and arsenates
References

Gottlobite, CaMg(VO4,AsO4)(OH), is a mineral in the adelite group found as isolated crystals or isometric grains of orange or orange-brown color. The size of the crystals are a half millimeter in diameter and are part of the orthorhombic crystal system. Gottlobite is the vanadate end member in a solid solution formed with adelite (CaMg(AsO4)(OH)). Gottlobite is also part of the vanadates and arsenates group. With these characteristics, it is similar to the minerals tangeite and austinite by X-ray diffraction methods.