Gurimite is a rare barium vanadate that forms colorless thin elongate crystals. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2013. It was first described from Found at the Gurim Anticline, near Arad, and at Zuk Tamrur, Negev Desert, Israel.
Is this gurimite?
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 gurimite with a known reference. Gurimite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: thin elongate crystals.
Often confused with
Gurimite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside gurimite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gurimite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₃(VO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.044 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Thin elongate crystals
- Cleavage
- Good on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A common accessory mineral in thin veins of paralava cutting gehlenite-flamite hornfels and formed at >1100° C from the relatively fast crystallization of residual melt
Where rockhounds find gurimite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found at the Gurim Anticline, near Arad, and at Zuk Tamrur, Negev Desert, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A common accessory mineral in thin veins of paralava cutting gehlenite-flamite hornfels and formed at >1100° C from the relatively fast crystallization of residual melt. If you start seeing hexacelsian, rankinite, gehlenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: thin elongate crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify gurimite?+
Where is gurimite found?+
Is gurimite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like gurimite?+
What minerals are found with gurimite?+
What kind of rock does gurimite form in?+
What is gurimite used for?+
Find gurimite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
