IMA Abbreviation (Whitney-Evans 2010)
Ves
→ Vesuvianite
Skarn indicator
Standard symbol from American Mineralogist (Whitney & Evans, 2010). Used in thin-section labeling, phase diagrams, and IMA-style species records.
Pronunciation
/vəˈsuːviənaɪt/
↔ vuh-SOO-vee-uh-nite
from Vesuvius
Type Locality
Mt. Vesuvius — Italy
Described 1795 by Werner
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Market availability: Rare
Sought after; limited supply. Major shows and specialist dealers only.
Collector tier: Micromount / Niche
Best appreciated at thumbnail or smaller scale — often dull-colored, sub-millimeter, or radioactive. Specialist appeal.
Mohs 6.5
Vickers (~) 820 HV
Knoop (~) 870 HK
Nickel–Strunz
9.BG.35Dana
58.02.04.01Geological setting
MetamorphicSkarn
Element composition by mass
Formula: Ca₁₀(Mg,Fe)₂Al₄(SiO₄)₅(Si₂O₇)₂(OH)₄ · molar mass: 1453.62 g/mol
| O | 41.82% | |
| Ca | 27.57% | |
| Si | 17.39% | |
| Al | 7.42% | |
| Fe | 3.84% | |
| Mg | 1.67% | |
| H | 0.28% |
Computed from atomic weights (IUPAC 2021). Site-occupancy groups (Fe,Mn) split equally.
Mohs Hardness
6.5
Vesuvianite sits at 6.5 on the Mohs scale — harder than glass; scratches steel.
Colors:
Streak
White
White
Crystal system
Tetragonal
Tetragonal
Type localityMt. Vesuvius, Naples, Italy
SilicatesSilicates (Sorosilicates)
TL;DR · 1 min read
Vesuvianite (Ca₁₀(Mg,Fe)₂Al₄(SiO₄)₅(Si₂O₇)₂(OH)₄), historically called "idocrase," is a calcium-magnesium-aluminum sorosilicate that forms in contact-metamorphic skarns. It was first described in 1795 from blocks ejected by Mount Vesuvius, hence the name.
Vesuvianite (Ca₁₀(Mg,Fe)₂Al₄(SiO₄)₅(Si₂O₇)₂(OH)₄), historically called “idocrase,” is a calcium-magnesium-aluminum sorosilicate that forms in contact-metamorphic skarns. It was first described in 1795 from blocks ejected by Mount Vesuvius, hence the name. Color ranges from common olive-green and brown through rare blue (“cyprine,” with copper) and green-yellow gem material — the “californite” jade-substitute variety from California, and the cyprine variety from Norway are particular collector targets.
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