Variscite: Gemstones Information

Variscite is AlPO42H2O, ornamental material being fashioned from finegrained transparent to translucent pale green to blue masses of the orthorhombic system, with a waxy lustre and hardness 4.5 and SG 2.57–2.61; crystals are rare. The RI for the alpha, beta and gamma rays is 1.550–1.563, 1.565–1.588, 1.570–1.594, biaxial negative with birefringence 0.031. Variscite is typically deposited from phosphate-bearing waters in contact with aluminous rocks.Good ornamental material is found as large nodules at the Little Green Monster mine, Clay Canyon, west of Fairfield, Utah, USA, and in the same state rich green variscite has been reported from sites in Tooele County. Variscite also occurs at the Sapucaia pegmatite mine, about 50 km east, south-east of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil.