Search Mineralpedia – A Mineral Photo Database and Identification Guide

Named to honor Dr. Rene Van Tassel, who did extensive mineralogical research on Belgian minerals and was a mineralogist at the Royal Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussles, Belgium. Vantasselite is found on dumps from a quartzite quarry within quartz veinlets and along schistosity planes. Type locality is Bihain, Belgium, but also found in Germany and Japan.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/vantasselite.pdf

An allusion to its components, Vanuralite is named for vanadium (van), uranium (ur), and aluminum (al). Vanuralite is found in only one country in the world at the Mounana mine, its type locality, and the Oklo mine in Gabon. It occurs at both of these mines in the oxidized zones of a uranium-vanadium deposit that is also lead-bearing. Vanuralite is radioactive.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/vanuralite.pdf

Variscite is named for the old word for Vogtland, Variscia, which is the district in Germany from which Variscite gets its type locality. Generally, Variscite results from phosphate-rich waters interacting with aluminum-rich rocks. It can also be found on islands and in caves as a result of the phosphate provided by guano. Variscite is widely dispersed around the world at several localities. Sometimes used as a gem for jewelery.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/variscite.pdf

Named to honor George Vaux Jr., nephew of mineral collector William S. Vaux and himself a mineral collector and lawyer from Pennsylvania, USA. Vauxite is an alteration mineral derived from apatite and found in only two localities, the Siglo XX mine in Bolivia and the National Limestone Co. quarry in Pennsylvania.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/vauxite.pdf