vanurite

Vanurite is a term that has appeared in mineralogy texts as a hypothetical mineral used to illustrate principles of mineral naming, composition, and crystal chemistry. It is not recognized as an official mineral specimen by major reference databases such as Mindat.org, the Handbook of Mineralogy, or the International Mineralogical Association, and no verified specimen or locality has been documented.

In teaching examples, vanurite is described as a copper- and vanadium-bearing phosphate mineral. Its proposed composition is variable in different illustrations but is typically described as containing copper ions (Cu2+), vanadium in a phosphate framework (as VO4 units), and phosphate (PO4) groups, yielding a general formula that conveys a phosphatic copper-vanadate. The mineral is commonly depicted with a green to olive coloration, a vitreous to resinous luster, and a Mohs hardness around 4 to 5. Its crystal system is often shown as monoclinic in teaching materials, with space-group assignments chosen to illustrate typical phosphate mineral symmetries; however, because vanurite is not an established mineral, these details are illustrative.

The name vanurite is usually derived from a fictional or hypothetical locality or region used in didactic examples. The entry remains concise and cautious, reflecting the mineral’s status as an educational construct rather than an observed natural species.

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