Barnesite is a rare sodium vanadium oxide hydrate typically found as dark, reddish-brown platy crystals or crusts in sedimentary uranium-vanadium deposits. It is a secondary mineral that forms through the oxidation of primary vanadium minerals in arid environments, most notably in the Colorado Plateau region of the United States.
Is this barnesite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch barnesite with a known reference. Barnesite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Barnesite leaves a yellowish-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Barnesite typically shows a subadamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Barnesite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Barnesite leaves yellowish-orange, Corvusite leaves black; luster reads subadamantine on Barnesite and dull on Corvusite.
How to tell apart: Barnesite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2 vs. approx 1); streak differs, so Barnesite leaves yellowish-orange, Hewettite leaves brownish red; luster reads subadamantine on Barnesite and pearly on Hewettite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Barnesite leaves yellowish-orange, Navajoite leaves yellowish-brown; luster reads subadamantine on Barnesite and dull on Navajoite.
Often found alongside barnesite
Minerals reported to co-occur with barnesite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂V₆O₁₆·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-orange
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Sandstone Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find barnesite
Classic worldwide localities
- Thompson District, Utah, USA
- Paradox Valley, Colorado, USA
- Canyon County, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary sandstone deposits country, the host setting where barnesite typically forms. If you start seeing hewettite, tyuyamunite, carnotite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find barnesite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
