Vivianite specimens from various world localities yield X-ray powder patterns of two types: one corresponds with that shown by synthetic Fe₃(PO₄)₂ · 8H₂O and is not readily distinguished from that of barićite; the second shows reflections of monoclinic vivianite and triclinic metavivianite along with reflections of a bobierrite-type phase. The triclinic phase occurs as two twin-related lattices with twin plane 110 being the structural equivalent of 010 in the monoclinic phase. The relationship of the bobierrite-type lattice to the other two has not been established. The ternary pattern is produced by some coarse-grained vivianites on natural oxidation. Finer grained vivianites oxidise to an X-ray amorphous state without passing through a triclinic intermediate.