Cassedanneite is an exceptionally rare lead vanadate-chromate mineral typically found as small, bright orange prismatic crystals. It is primarily known from its type locality at the Berezovskoe gold deposit in Russia, often appearing as an overgrowth or association with crocoite.
Is this cassedanneite?
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 cassedanneite with a known reference. Cassedanneite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cassedanneite leaves a yellow-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cassedanneite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, orange-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic to tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Cassedanneite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Cassedanneite leaves yellow-orange, Crocoite leaves orange-yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Cassedanneite leaves yellow-orange, Vauquelinite leaves greenish-yellow; luster reads adamantine on Cassedanneite and resinous to adamantine on Vauquelinite.
Often found alongside cassedanneite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cassedanneite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₅(VO₄)₂(CrO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 5.65 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow-orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Quartz-chromite Veins
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find cassedanneite
Classic worldwide localities
- Berezovskoe deposit, Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal quartz-chromite veins country — that is the host setting where cassedanneite typically forms. If you start seeing crocoite, phoenicochroite, vauquelinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic to tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cassedanneite on the map
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