Judging quality
Look for hemispherical green botryoids on grey chert; a broken sphere shows the diagnostic radial fibres.
Phosphate
Wavellite
Radiating spheres of green needles that, when broken open, show a starburst cross-section like a cut kiwi. Arkansas material from the Ouachita Mountains is the world's best.
Care
Soft and fragile spheres. Dry brush only.
History & lore
Named for William Wavell, the English physician who found the first specimens in Devon around 1805.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Wavellite
- What is Wavellite?
- Radiating spheres of green needles that, when broken open, show a starburst cross-section like a cut kiwi. Arkansas material from the Ouachita Mountains is the world's best.
- How hard is Wavellite and what is it made of?
- Wavellite is a Phosphate-family mineral with the composition Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3·5H2O. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and rates 3.5-4 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in apple green, yellow-green, white.
- Where does Wavellite come from?
- Notable localities for Wavellite include Arkansas, USA (Mount Ida), Bolivia, England (Devon), Germany.
- How do you tell good Wavellite from filler?
- Look for hemispherical green botryoids on grey chert; a broken sphere shows the diagnostic radial fibres.
- How do you care for Wavellite?
- Soft and fragile spheres. Dry brush only.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.