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 — Bluestreakite leaves white, Pascoite leaves yellow; luster reads pearly on Bluestreakite and vitreous on Pascoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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?+
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What rocks look like bluestreakite?+
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Find bluestreakite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
