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Oxides & Hydroxide

Vigezzite

(Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)₂O₆
Hardness4.5–5
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
ClassOxides & Hydroxide
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Vigezzite specimen

Vigezzite Locality: Alpe Rosso, Orcesco, Druogno, Vigezzo Valley, Ossola Valley, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy Orange/brown crystals of Vigezzite. Field of view 2 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0

Vigezzite

A niobium-rich aeschynite-group mineral found in cavities in albitic rock in Italy's Valle Vigezzo.

Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Vigezzite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula (Ca,Ce)(Nb,Ta,Ti)₂O₆.

It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnma). It is a member of the Aeschynite structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5–5; specific gravity 5.54; optically biaxial.

IMA symbol Vgz, IMA status: approved, named in 1977.

Found in miarolitic cavities in an albitized pegmatite in amphibolite and biotite gneiss (Orcesco, Italy).

It is found associated with Pyrochlore, columbite, fersmite (Orcesco, Italy).

The name refers to Val Vigezzo, Italy, where the mineral occurs.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more V minerals or help write this entry.