Duttonite is a rare vanadium hydroxide mineral typically found as small, yellow, pearly platy crystals within sandstone formations. It is most commonly associated with other vanadium-bearing minerals in hydrothermal or sedimentary uranium-vanadium deposits. Collectors usually seek out these specimens for their unique crystal structure in micro-mount collections.
Is this duttonite?
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 duttonite with a known reference. Duttonite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Duttonite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Duttonite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, or radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Duttonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Montroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Duttonite leaves yellow, Montroseite leaves black; luster reads pearly on Duttonite and metallic on Montroseite.
How to tell apart: Paramontroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. 2); streak differs — Duttonite leaves yellow, Paramontroseite leaves black; luster reads pearly on Duttonite and metallic on Paramontroseite.
Often found alongside duttonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with duttonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- V⁴⁺₄O₈(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Or Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Vanadium-uranium Sandstone Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small micro-mounts or rare specimens
Where rockhounds find duttonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Colorado, USA
- Utah, USA
- Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in vanadium-uranium sandstone deposits country — that is the host setting where duttonite typically forms. If you start seeing montroseite, corvusite, tyuyamunite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, or radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find duttonite on the map
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