Olkhonskite is a very rare vanadium-titanium oxide mineral discovered in the metasomatic rocks of Olkhon Island. It typically occurs as microscopic yellow to brownish-yellow crusts or aggregates, making it primarily a species for specialized mineral collectors.
Is this olkhonskite?
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 olkhonskite with a known reference. Olkhonskite sits at Mohs 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Olkhonskite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Olkhonskite typically shows a earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fine-grained aggregates.
Often confused with
Olkhonskite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Montroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs — Olkhonskite leaves yellow, Montroseite leaves black; luster reads earthy on Olkhonskite and metallic on Montroseite.
How to tell apart: Paramontroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. 2-3); streak differs — Olkhonskite leaves yellow, Paramontroseite leaves black; luster reads earthy on Olkhonskite and metallic on Paramontroseite.
Often found alongside olkhonskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with olkhonskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (V,Cr)₂Ti₃O₉
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fine-grained Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metasomatic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find olkhonskite
Classic worldwide localities
- Olkhon Island, Lake Baikal, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in metasomatic rocks country — that is the host setting where olkhonskite typically forms. If you start seeing vesuvianite, diopside, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fine-grained aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find olkhonskite on the map
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