Cassagnaite is an extremely rare calcium vanadium silicate mineral typically found as small, vibrant reddish-orange tabular crystals. It is currently known primarily from its type locality in the Cassagna mine of Italy, where it occurs within manganese-rich metamorphic deposits.
Is this cassagnaite?
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 cassagnaite with a known reference. Cassagnaite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cassagnaite leaves a yellowish-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cassagnaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange-red, brownish-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Cassagnaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Vesuvianite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Cassagnaite leaves yellowish-orange, Vesuvianite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Garnet is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Cassagnaite leaves yellowish-orange, Garnet leaves white.
Often found alongside cassagnaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cassagnaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaV⁴⁺₂Si₂O₈(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.56 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganiferous Cherts and Associated Ophiolitic Rocks
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find cassagnaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cassagna mine, Val Graveglia, Liguria, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganiferous cherts and associated ophiolitic rocks country, the host setting where cassagnaite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cassagnaite on the map
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