Corvusite is a rare vanadium oxide mineral commonly found as coatings or replacements in sandstone-hosted uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau. It is typically identified by its dark, dull, blackish-blue appearance and association with other vanadium minerals like hewettite.
Is this corvusite?
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 corvusite with a known reference. Corvusite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Corvusite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Corvusite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, earthy, crusts.
Often confused with
Corvusite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Corvusite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2.5 vs. approx 1); streak differs — Corvusite leaves black, Hewettite leaves brownish red; luster reads dull on Corvusite and pearly on Hewettite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Corvusite leaves black, Pascoite leaves yellow; luster reads dull on Corvusite and vitreous on Pascoite.
Often found alongside corvusite
Minerals reported to co-occur with corvusite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- V₂O₄·6V₂O₅·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.8-3.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Earthy, Crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Sandstone Uranium-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen depending on size and association
Where rockhounds find corvusite
3 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Colorado Plateau, USA
- Utah, USA
- New Mexico, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary sandstone uranium-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where corvusite typically forms. If you start seeing hewettite, pyrolusite, carnotite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, earthy, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find corvusite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
