Blue crystals of minasragrite, associated to black patronite (vanadium sulphide). Minasragrite is a rare vanadium sulphate mineral found in only two localities worldwide. From: Ragra Mine, Cerro de Pasco, Pasco Department, Peru. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Minasragrite
Minasragrite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the vanadate class, with the chemical formula V⁴⁺O(SO₄)·5H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c). It is a member of the Minasragrite structural group.
Key properties: specific gravity 2.03; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Mra, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1915.
An alteration product of patronite in a rich deposit of vanadian materials in fissures that cut red shales and that were probably filled by a remobilized asphaltite deposit (Minasragra, Peru); in a silicified tree.
It is found associated with Patronite, melanterite, morenosite, dwornikite, retgersite, szomolnokite, potassium alum, gypsum (Minasragra, Peru); orthominasragrite, pyrite, sulfur.
The name refers to its occurrence at Minasragra, Peru.