Cavoite is a rare calcium vanadate mineral typically found as small, thin tabular crystals in vanadium-rich ore deposits. Due to its rarity and delicate nature, it is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors specializing in vanadium species.
Is this cavoite?
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 cavoite with a known reference. Cavoite 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. Streak: near white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, aggregates, radial.
Often confused with
Cavoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Cavoite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Cavoite leaves near white, Gypsum leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Cavoite and subvitreous, pearly on {010} cleavages, silky if fibrous on Gypsum.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Cavoite leaves near white, Anhydrite leaves white to pale gray; luster reads vitreous on Cavoite and pearly on {010}, vitreous to greasy on {001}; vitreous on {100} on Anhydrite.
Often found alongside cavoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cavoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaV₃O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.51 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Near white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, aggregates, radial
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Microcavites in massive caryopilite and rhodocrosite in braunite Mn ore
Where rockhounds find cavoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gambatesa mine, near Reppia, Liguria, northern Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Microcavites in massive caryopilite and rhodocrosite in braunite Mn ore. If you start seeing caryopilite, calcian rhodochrosite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, aggregates, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify cavoite?+
Where is cavoite found?+
Is cavoite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like cavoite?+
What minerals are found with cavoite?+
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What is cavoite used for?+
Find cavoite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
