Hughesite
Hughesite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Na₃AlV₁₀O₂₈·22H₂O.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1). It is a member of the Pascoite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 1; specific gravity 2.29; Yellow streak; Subadamantine luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Hug, IMA status: approved, named in 2009.
Occurs as efflorescent crusts on the sandstone walls of mine workings and in rock fractures, through the oxidation of primary vanadium oxides (corvusite and montroseite) that react with acidic.
It is found associated with Rossite, lasalite, hewettite, sherwoodite, corvusite, montroseite, rakovanite, gunterite.
The mineral was named to honor John Michael Hughes (b. 1952), Professor of Mineralogy, University of Vermont, USA, for his long and outstanding career in mineralogy.