Doloresite is a rare vanadium oxide mineral primarily found in secondary oxidation zones of sandstone-hosted uranium deposits. It typically presents as dark, brownish-black massive or foliated crusts and is often associated with other vanadium-bearing minerals like corvusite.
Is this doloresite?
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 doloresite with a known reference. Doloresite 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. Doloresite leaves a brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Doloresite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, bronze-brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, foliated, or microcrystalline aggregates.
Often confused with
Doloresite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Doloresite leaves brown, Corvusite leaves black; luster reads submetallic on Doloresite and dull on Corvusite.
How to tell apart: Doloresite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3 vs. approx 1); streak differs — Doloresite leaves brown, Hewettite leaves brownish red; luster reads submetallic on Doloresite and pearly on Hewettite.
How to tell apart: Montroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3); streak differs — Doloresite leaves brown, Montroseite leaves black; luster reads submetallic on Doloresite and metallic on Montroseite.
Often found alongside doloresite
Minerals reported to co-occur with doloresite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- H₈Ca₂V₁₈O₄₅
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.27 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Foliated, Or Microcrystalline Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone-hosted Uranium-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find doloresite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Colorado, USA
- Utah, USA
- Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone-hosted uranium-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where doloresite typically forms. If you start seeing corvusite, montroseite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, foliated, or microcrystalline aggregates 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
How do you identify doloresite?+
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Find doloresite on the map
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