Palenzonaite is a rare vanadate member of the garnet group typically occurring as small wine-red dodecahedral crystals. It is primarily known from the manganese mines of the Val Graveglia region in Italy where it forms in association with other manganese minerals. Collectors prize it for its unique chemistry and relative scarcity.
Is this palenzonaite?
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 palenzonaite with a known reference. Palenzonaite sits at Mohs 5-5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brownish red.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: wine red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Palenzonaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Garnet is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 5-5.5); streak differs, so Palenzonaite leaves brownish red, Garnet leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Palenzonaite and vitreous on Garnet.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Palenzonaite and submetallic on Braunite.
Often found alongside palenzonaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with palenzonaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCa₂Mn₂(VO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 3.63 g/cm³
- Colors
- Wine red
- Streak
- Brownish red
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral in narrow veinlets cutting a manganese deposit hosted within radiolarian cherts (Molinello mine, Italy)
Where rockhounds find palenzonaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Molinello manganese mine, near Chiavari, Val Graveglia, Liguria, Italy
- Fianel mine, Val Ferrera, Graubünden, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral in narrow veinlets cutting a manganese deposit hosted within radiolarian cherts (Molinello mine, Italy). If you start seeing manganoan calcite, saneroite, ganophyllite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find palenzonaite on the map
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