Ziesite

Ziesite is a mineral, copper vanadate: formula β-Cu₂V₂O₇. It was discovered in 1980 as monoclinic crystals around fumaroles in the crater of the Izalco Volcano, El Salvador. It is named after Emmanuel G. Zies (1884-1981), an American mineralogist.

Closely related is blossite, also copper vanadate; its formula is given as α-Cu₂V₂O₇. It forms orthorhombic crystals. Blossite was also first described for specimens from the Izalco volcano. is named after mineralogist F. Donald Bloss (1920– ).

Ziesite and blossite are polymorphs, different crystal structure for the same chemical composition and are quite similar in physical properties.

See also

• List of minerals
• List of minerals named after people

References

• Ziesite on Webmineral
• Blossite on Webmineral
• Ziesite on Mindat
• Blossite on Mindat
• Blossite in The Handbook of Mineralogy
• Ziesite in The Handbook of Mineralogy