Kurumsakite is a rare vanadium-bearing mineral typically found as earthy or powdery coatings in sedimentary vanadium deposits. It is known primarily from its type locality in the Karatau Range of Kazakhstan and is highly prized by systematic mineral collectors due to its restricted occurrence.
Is this kurumsakite?
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 kurumsakite with a known reference. Kurumsakite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish yellow, bright yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: felted, massive.
Often confused with
Kurumsakite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Volborthite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Kurumsakite leaves yellow, Volborthite leaves light green.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kurumsakite leaves yellow, Tyuyamunite leaves light yellow; luster reads vitreous to silky on Kurumsakite and adamantine, pearly on {001}, may be dull to waxy if massive on Tyuyamunite.
Often found alongside kurumsakite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kurumsakite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn₈Al₈V₂Si₅O₃₅·27H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.03 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Felted, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In bituminous schists in the walls of cavities and open fissures
Where rockhounds find kurumsakite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kurumsak vanadium deposit, near Dzhambul, Kara-Tau Mountains, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In bituminous schists in the walls of cavities and open fissures. If you start seeing vanadinite, tyuyamunite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: felted, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kurumsakite?+
Where is kurumsakite found?+
Is kurumsakite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like kurumsakite?+
What minerals are found with kurumsakite?+
What kind of rock does kurumsakite form in?+
What is kurumsakite used for?+
Find kurumsakite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
