Bluestreakite is a rare, vibrant blue vanadium mineral that typically occurs as delicate, fibrous radial sprays or acicular crusts on sandstone. It is most commonly found in the Colorado Plateau's uranium-vanadium deposits, where it forms as a secondary mineral in oxidized zones.
Is this bluestreakite?
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 bluestreakite with a known reference. Bluestreakite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bluestreakite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bluestreakite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous radial sprays.
Often confused with
Bluestreakite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bluestreakite leaves white, Pascoite leaves yellow; luster reads pearly on Bluestreakite and vitreous on Pascoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bluestreakite leaves white, Sherwoodite leaves light blue; luster reads pearly on Bluestreakite and vitreous on Sherwoodite.
Often found alongside bluestreakite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bluestreakite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₄NaMg₂(V⁵⁺₁₀V⁴⁺₂O₃₈)·20H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.44 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Fibrous Radial Sprays
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find bluestreakite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vanadium Queen Mine, Utah, USA
- Bull Canyon, Colorado, USA
- Deremo-Snyder Mine, Colorado, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone country, the host setting where bluestreakite typically forms. If you start seeing pascoite, rossite, metarossite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or fibrous radial sprays habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bluestreakite?+
Where is bluestreakite found?+
How much is bluestreakite worth?+
Is bluestreakite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bluestreakite?+
What minerals are found with bluestreakite?+
What kind of rock does bluestreakite form in?+
What is bluestreakite used for?+
Find bluestreakite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
