Mounanaite is a rare lead-iron vanadate mineral that typically forms as small, tabular red-brown crystals or crusts. It is best known from its type locality in the Mounana mine of Gabon, often occurring in oxidized ore zones associated with other secondary lead minerals.
Is this mounanaite?
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 mounanaite with a known reference. Mounanaite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Mounanaite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Mounanaite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, reddish brown, orange red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Mounanaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Mounanaite leaves yellowish brown, Descloizite leaves orange to brownish-red; luster reads adamantine on Mounanaite and greasy to adamantine on Descloizite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Mounanaite leaves yellowish brown, Vanadinite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Mounanaite and resinous on Vanadinite.
Often found alongside mounanaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mounanaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbFe²⁺Fe³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zone of Uranium-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find mounanaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mounana mine, Gabon
- Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zone of uranium-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where mounanaite typically forms. If you start seeing vanadinite, wulfenite, mottramite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find mounanaite on the map
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