Fianelite is a rare manganese vanadate that forms red-orange rare crystals. It occurs in fractures crosscutting veinlets in metamorphosed Fe-Mn ores. It was first described from Fianel mine, Val Ferrera, Graubünden, Switzerland.
Is this fianelite?
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 fianelite with a known reference. Fianelite 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: orange.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: encrustations.
Often confused with
Fianelite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Austinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. ~3); streak differs, so Fianelite leaves orange, Austinite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Fianelite and subadamantine to silky in aggregates on Austinite.
How to tell apart: Conichalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. ~3); streak differs, so Fianelite leaves orange, Conichalcite leaves green.
Often found alongside fianelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fianelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺₂V₂O₇·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 3.21 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations
- Cleavage
- Parallel {001}(?) and {100}(?), good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In fractures crosscutting veinlets in metamorphosed Fe–Mn ores
Where rockhounds find fianelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fianel mine, Val Ferrera, Graubünden, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In fractures crosscutting veinlets in metamorphosed Fe–Mn ores. If you start seeing medaite, palenzonaite, saneroite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find fianelite on the map
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