Description
Cavansite is a hydrated calcium-vanadium silicate mineral with the formula Ca(V5+O)Si4O10 4H2O. This phyllosilicate belongs to the mica group. Ranging from green to dark blue, cavansite exhibits a vitreous luster, a blue-white streak, and cleaves well along the [010] crystal face. It has an average specific gravity of 2.25 and a hardness of 3 to 4. The crystal system is orthorhombic, and the mineral is non-radioactive. The name cavansite is derived from the chemical elements of which it is composed: calcium, vanadium, and silicon. Cavansite is found primarily in secondary mineralizations in andesites and basalts. The original source is near the Owyhee Dam in Malheur County, Oregon, USA. Today, the Wagholi Quarry near Pune, India, is the primary source.
