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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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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