Duttonite is a rare vanadium hydroxide mineral typically found as small, pale brown to greenish, 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 ~2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light brown.
- 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 5.5-6.5 vs. ~2.5); streak differs, so Duttonite leaves yellow, Montroseite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Duttonite and submetallic on Montroseite.
How to tell apart: Paramontroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. ~2.5); streak differs, so Duttonite leaves yellow, Paramontroseite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Duttonite and submetallic 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
- VO(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~2.5
- Density
- 3.24 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, crusts, or radiating aggregates
- Cleavage
- {001}, good to perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral formed by the low-temperature hydrothermal alteration of vanadium-bearing minerals
Where rockhounds find duttonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found at the Peanut mine, Bull Canyon area, Uravan district, Montrose Co., and at the Sundown claim, Gypsum Valley, Slick Rock district, San Miguel Co., Colorado, USA
- Wilson Springs (Potash Sulphur Springs) mine, Garland Co., Arkansas, USA
- Urcal deposit, La Rioja, Argentina
- Mounana uranium mine, Franceville, Gabon
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral formed by the low-temperature hydrothermal alteration of vanadium-bearing minerals. If you start seeing melanovanadite, lenoblite, selenium in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, or radiating aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify duttonite?+
Where is duttonite found?+
Is duttonite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like duttonite?+
What minerals are found with duttonite?+
What kind of rock does duttonite form in?+
What is duttonite used for?+
Find duttonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
