Janchevite is a rare lead vanadium oxide, typically orange-red. Associated minerals include barite, hausmannite and calcite. It was first described from Kombat mine, Grootfontein district, Otjozondjupa region, northern Namibia.
Is this janchevite?
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 janchevite with a known reference. Janchevite 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: orange.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal.
Often confused with
Janchevite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Janchevite leaves orange, Galkhaite leaves yellow-orange; luster reads adamantine on Janchevite and vitreous to adamantine on Galkhaite.
How to tell apart: Sphalerite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. ~2.5); streak differs, so Janchevite leaves orange, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white; luster reads adamantine on Janchevite and resinous to adamantine on Sphalerite.
Often found alongside janchevite
Minerals reported to co-occur with janchevite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₉VO₁₀.₂₅☐₀.₇₅Cl₂.₅
- Mohs hardness
- ~2.5
- Density
- 8.160 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A product of the regional metamorphism of a Pb-Mn-(As-Ba)-rich, chemically heterogeneous, volcanic-hydrothermal assemblage
Where rockhounds find janchevite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kombat mine, Grootfontein district, Otjozondjupa region, northern Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A product of the regional metamorphism of a Pb-Mn-(As-Ba)-rich, chemically heterogeneous, volcanic-hydrothermal assemblage. If you start seeing barite, hausmannite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground.
Common questions
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Find janchevite on the map
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