Martyite is a rare zinc vanadate mineral typically found as vibrant orange to reddish-orange bladed crystals. It is primarily known from specific oxidized ore environments, often appearing in tight, radial clusters or drusy coatings associated with other secondary zinc minerals.
Is this martyite?
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 martyite with a known reference. Martyite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow-orange.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow orange, red orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy, rosette.
Often confused with
Martyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Martyite leaves pale yellow-orange, Descloizite leaves orange to brownish red; luster reads adamantine on Martyite and greasy on Descloizite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Martyite leaves pale yellow-orange, Mottramite leaves yellowish green; luster reads adamantine on Martyite and greasy on Mottramite.
How to tell apart: Conichalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3); streak differs, so Martyite leaves pale yellow-orange, Conichalcite leaves green; luster reads adamantine on Martyite and vitreous to somewhat greasy on Conichalcite.
Often found alongside martyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with martyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn₃(V₂O₇)(OH)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.37 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow-orange
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy, rosette
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}, good on {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Product of groundwater leaching and oxidation of vanadium oxides in a post-mining environment
Where rockhounds find martyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Blue Cap mine, near La Sal, San Juan County, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Product of groundwater leaching and oxidation of vanadium oxides in a post-mining environment. If you start seeing gypsum, rossite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, rosette. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify martyite?+
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What rocks look like martyite?+
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Find martyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
