Gunterite is an extremely rare hydrous sodium vanadate that typically occurs as thin, yellow, platy crystals or efflorescent crusts. It is most commonly found as a secondary mineral in vanadium-rich uranium deposits within sandstone, often appearing in association with other rare vanadates.
Is this gunterite?
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 gunterite with a known reference. Gunterite sits at Mohs 1-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gunterite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gunterite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Gunterite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside gunterite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gunterite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₄V₁₀O₂₈·22H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1-2
- Density
- 2.28 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone Hosted Uranium-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-200 for micro-specimens
Where rockhounds find gunterite
Classic worldwide localities
- Temple Mountain, Utah, USA
- San Rafael Swell, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone hosted uranium-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where gunterite typically forms. If you start seeing gypsum, paramontroseite, corvusite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify gunterite?+
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Find gunterite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
