Navajoite is a rare vanadium oxide typically found as fibrous, dark brown coatings or thin crusts in oxidized uranium-vanadium deposits. It is most frequently encountered by collectors as micro-crystalline layers within sandstone hosted mines of the Colorado Plateau.

Hardness

1.5

Mohs

Luster

Dull

Streak

Yellowish-brown

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrare

Navajoite

Hardness: 1.5
Luster: Dull
Streak: Yellowish-brown
Transparency: Opaque

Is this navajoite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch navajoite with a known reference. Navajoite sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Navajoite leaves a yellowish-brown streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Navajoite typically shows a dull luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: dark brown, blackish-brown.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous, crusts, coatings.

Often confused with

Navajoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Tyuyamunite

Mohs 2

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Navajoite leaves yellowish-brown, Tyuyamunite leaves yellow; luster reads dull on Navajoite and pearly on Tyuyamunite.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Navajoite leaves yellowish-brown, Carnotite leaves yellow.

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Often found alongside navajoite

Minerals reported to co-occur with navajoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: V⁹⁺₅O₁₂·3H₂O
Mohs hardness: 1.5
Density: 2.5 g/cm³
Colors: Dark Brown Blackish-brown
Streak: Yellowish-brown
Luster: Dull
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Fibrous, Crusts, Coatings
Cleavage: Perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Sandstone
Typical price: $20-150 for small specimens

Where rockhounds find navajoite

Classic worldwide localities

Monument No. 2 mine, Arizona, USA
Uravan mineral belt, Colorado, USA

Field-hunting tip

Look in sandstone country, the host setting where navajoite typically forms. If you start seeing gypsum, barite, vanadinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous, crusts, coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify navajoite?+

Mohs hardness is 1.5. It typically shows a dull luster. The streak is yellowish-brown. Common colors include dark brown, blackish-brown.

Where is navajoite found?+

Notable localities include Monument No. 2 mine, Arizona, USA; Uravan mineral belt, Colorado, USA.

How much is navajoite worth?+

Typical asking prices fall in the range of $20-150 for small specimens. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.

Is navajoite safe to handle?+

It contains toxic constituents. Contains vanadium, which is toxic if ingested or inhaled; wash hands thoroughly after handling and avoid dust creation. Handle with care, avoid grinding or breathing dust, and store separately.

What rocks look like navajoite?+

Navajoite is most often confused with Tyuyamunite, Carnotite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with navajoite?+

Navajoite commonly co-occurs with gypsum, barite, vanadinite, tyuyamunite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does navajoite form in?+

Navajoite typically forms in sandstone. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is navajoite used for?+

Navajoite is used in collector.

Find navajoite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.