Melanovanadite is a rare, dark-colored vanadium mineral typically found as elongated prismatic crystals or fibrous radial clusters. It is most famous from the Ragra vanadium mine in Peru and is primarily sought after by advanced mineral collectors for its unique composition.
Is this melanovanadite?
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 melanovanadite with a known reference. Melanovanadite 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: dark reddish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous masses.
Often confused with
Melanovanadite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Melanovanadite leaves dark reddish brown, Vanadinite leaves white to pale red or pale yellow; luster reads submetallic on Melanovanadite and subresinous to subadamantine on Vanadinite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Melanovanadite leaves dark reddish brown, Corvusite leaves purplish blue-black; luster reads submetallic on Melanovanadite and “lusterous” on Corvusite.
How to tell apart: Melanovanadite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2.5 vs. ~1); streak differs, so Melanovanadite leaves dark reddish brown, Hewettite leaves brownish red; luster reads submetallic on Melanovanadite and silky to adamantine on Hewettite.
Often found alongside melanovanadite
Minerals reported to co-occur with melanovanadite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaV⁴⁺₄V⁵⁺₂O₁₆·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark reddish brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque, translucent in very thin flakes
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous masses
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In altered black shale in a very rich vanadium deposit (Minasragra, Peru); in Colorado Plateau-type U–V deposits
Where rockhounds find melanovanadite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mesa No. 1, Mesa No. 5, and Kerr-McGee 4-1 mines, Lukachukai Mountains, Apache Co., Arizona, USA
- Jackpile mine, Valencia Co., New Mexico, USA
- Jo Dandy, Bitter Creek, and Peanut mines, Uravan district, Montrose Co., and the Garfield mines, Garfield Co., Colorado, USA
- Juniper mine, Thompsons district, Grand Co., Utah, USA
- Minasragra, 46 km from Cerro de Pasco, Peru
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In altered black shale in a very rich vanadium deposit (Minasragra, Peru); in Colorado Plateau-type U–V deposits. If you start seeing pascoite, pyrite, copper in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous masses. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find melanovanadite on the map
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