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Dominant species
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Wavellite
Wavellite
Chemical
Formula
Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3·5H2O
Species
Phosphates
Crystal
System
Orthorhombic
Mohs
Scale
3-4
Specific
Gravity
2.36
Color
Green to yellowish-green and yellow, brown, white and colorless
Streak
White
Luster
Vitreous, Greasy, Pearly
Refractive
Index
n = 1.518 - 1.535 n = 1.524 - 1.543 n = 1.544 - 1.561
Diaphaneity
Transparent, Translucent
Cleavage
PerfectPerfect on , good on , distinct on .
Fracture
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Crystal Habit:Spherical, radial aggregates; striated prisms; crusty to stalactitic
Geological Setting:A secondary mineral of aluminous low-grade metamorphic rocks, in phosphate and limonitic deposits; more rarely as a late-forming hydrothermal vein mineral.
Wavellite is a phosphate mineral with formula Al3(PO4)2(OH, F)3·5H2O. It normally occurs as translucent green radial or spherical clusters.

Discovery and occurrence

It was first described in 1805 for an occurrence within the High Down Quarry, Filleigh, Devon, England and named for William Wavell (?-1829) of England who discovered the mineral.

It occurs in association with crandallite and variscite in fractures in aluminous metamorphic rock, in hydrothermal regions and in phosphate rock deposits. It is found in a wide variety of locations notably in the Mount Ida, Arkansas area in the Ouachita Mountains.