Cavansite is a highly sought-after secondary mineral known for its vibrant, electric blue spherical crystal clusters. It is typically found lining cavities in basalt, often associated with white zeolites like stilbite or apophyllite, which provide a striking aesthetic contrast.
Is this cavansite?
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 cavansite with a known reference. Cavansite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cavansite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cavansite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright blue, azure blue, greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: radiating spherical clusters, bow-tie aggregates.
Often confused with
Cavansite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cavansite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cavansite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca(VO)Si₄O₁₀·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 2.44 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Radiating Spherical Clusters, Bow-tie Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Basalt Cavities
- Typical price
- $20-200 for aesthetic clusters depending on size and intensity of color
Where rockhounds find cavansite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pune, India
- Oregon, USA
- Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in basalt cavities country — that is the host setting where cavansite typically forms. If you start seeing stilbite, heulandite, apophyllite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a radiating spherical clusters, bow-tie aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify cavansite?+
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Find cavansite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
