Kazakhstanite is a rare vanadium-bearing mineral typically found as soft, powdery crusts or efflorescences on vanadium-rich shale surfaces. It is primarily identified through its association with other vanadium oxidation products in arid environments. Collectors seek out this mineral for its unusual chemistry and its rarity within specific central Asian sedimentary deposits.
Is this kazakhstanite?
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 kazakhstanite with a known reference. Kazakhstanite 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: black, with slight brownish tint.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine, dull in aggregates.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Kazakhstanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kazakhstanite leaves black, with slight brownish tint, Vanoxite leaves brown black; luster reads adamantine, dull in aggregates on Kazakhstanite and metallic on Vanoxite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kazakhstanite leaves black, with slight brownish tint, Sherwoodite leaves pale blue; luster reads adamantine, dull in aggregates on Kazakhstanite and vitreous to earthy on Sherwoodite.
Often found alongside kazakhstanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kazakhstanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₅V₃V₁₂O₃₉(OH)₉·9H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2.5
- Density
- 3.4-3.6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black, with slight brownish tint
- Luster
- Adamantine, dull in aggregates
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In thin veins or cementing breccia in the weathering zone of vanadiferous black shales (Kara-Tau Mountains, Kazakhstan); in a hydrothermal gold deposit (Gold Quarry mine, Nevada, USA)
Where rockhounds find kazakhstanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gold Quarry mine, near Carlin, Maggie Creek district, Eureka Co., Nevada, USA
- Kurumsak, Balasauskandyk, and Ran vanadium deposits, northwestern Kara-Tau Mountains, and at Mt. Dzhebagly, Talass Alatau Range, southern Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In thin veins or cementing breccia in the weathering zone of vanadiferous black shales (Kara-Tau Mountains, Kazakhstan); in a hydrothermal gold deposit (Gold Quarry mine, Nevada, USA). If you start seeing bokite, fervanite, schubnelite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kazakhstanite?+
Where is kazakhstanite found?+
Is kazakhstanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like kazakhstanite?+
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Find kazakhstanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
