CAVANSITE

HISTORY, NAME, AND COLLECTING LOCALITIES: Discovered in the early 1960s, cavansite was recognized as a distinct mineral species in 1973.  Its name is derived from an acronym of the first syllables of three of its essential elements: calcium, vanadium, and silicon.  As a rare mineral, it is known to occur only in India, Brazil, New Zealand, and the United States (Oregon).  India provides the entire supply of cavansite specimens.

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Cavansite [hydrous calcium oxyvanadium silicate, Ca(VO)Si₄O₁₀·4H₂O], pronounced ca-VAN-site, is a rare, bright-blue, vanadium-containing silicate that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system as spherical aggregates or rosettes of radiating, acicular crystals.  It has a Mohs hardness of 3.0-4.0, good-to-perfect cleavage in one direction, a vitreous luster, and a low specific gravity of 2.21-2.31.  Cavansite’s diagnostic, vivid-blue color is caused by the essential element vanadium.  Because of its micaceous or leaf-like crystal structure of thin sheets, it is a member of the phyllosilicate subclass of silicates.  Cavansite occurs almost exclusively as a secondary mineral within vesicles in basalt.

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES: Cavansite has no technological uses.  Metaphysical practitioners believe that cavansite stimulates intuition, heightens psychic awareness, enhances channeling abilities, cleanses the mind of negative thoughts, and inspires mental creativity.

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Cavansite is widely collected for its rarity, unusual crystal habits, vivid-blue color, and dramatic color contrast with its matrix of white or colorless zeolite minerals.