Variscite

Geology

Variscite is a secondary mineral formed by direct deposition from phosphate-bearing water reacting with aluminium-rich rocks in a near-surface environment.
It occurs as fine-grained masses in nodules, cavity fillings, and crusts.
Variscite often contains white veins of the calcium aluminium phosphate mineral crandallite.
It was first described in 1837 and named after the locality of Variscia, the historical name of the Vogtland in Germany.
Variscite from Nevada typically contains black spiderwebbing in the matrix and is often confused with green turquoise.

Variscite has been used in Europe for making personal ornaments, especially beads, since Neolithic times.
Its use continued during the Bronze Age and in Roman times.
All variscite used in Europe comes from three sites in Spain: Gavá, Palazuelo de las Cuevas, and Encinasola.
Variscite is sometimes used as a semi-precious stone and is popular for carvings and ornamental use due to its beautiful green color.
It is commonly used in silversmithing as a substitute for turquoise.

Cut slab of variscite at the Smithsonian, approximately 0.5 m wide.
Variscite filling the cracks in siltstone from Queensland, Australia, with a view width of 11 cm.
Polished variscite specimen from Nevada.
Variscite and silver bolo tie with inclusions of white crandallite from Clay Canyon near Fairfield, Utah.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Variscite.
Warr, L. N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, Vol.85, no.3.
Variscite (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy, RRUFF Project.
Variscite, Mindat.org.
Variscite Mineral Data, WebMineral.com.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/variscite
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Variscite
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q415544
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/03p1sz