Gamagarite Locality: Cerchiara Mine, Borghetto Vara, Vara Valley, La Spezia Province, Liguria, Italy Red Gamagarite. Field of view 7 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gamagarite
Gamagarite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the vanadate class, with the chemical formula Ba₂Fe³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH).
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/m). It is a member of the Brackebuschite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5–5; specific gravity 4.62–4.68; Reddish brown streak; Adamantine luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Gam, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1943.
Very rare, in banded manganese ore replacing shale (Gloucester Farm, South Africa); in veinlets cutting manganese ore (Molinello mine, Italy).
It is found associated with Bixbyite, hematite, ephesite, diaspore, amesite (Gloucester Farm, South Africa); braunite, saneroite, bementite, caryopilite, calcite, quartz (Molinello mine.
The name refers to the original occurrence on Gamagara Ridge, South Africa.