Paramontroseite is a rare vanadium oxide mineral found primarily in altered uranium-vanadium sandstone deposits. It typically occurs as a secondary alteration product of montroseite, often preserving the prismatic crystal habit of the precursor. Collectors prize it for its association with secondary vanadium minerals in Colorado Plateau type deposits.
Is this paramontroseite?
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 paramontroseite with a known reference. Paramontroseite sits at Mohs 4-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Paramontroseite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Paramontroseite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Paramontroseite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Rutile is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4-5); streak differs — Paramontroseite leaves black, Rutile leaves pale brown to yellow; luster reads metallic on Paramontroseite and metallic to adamantine on Rutile.
Often found alongside paramontroseite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paramontroseite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- VO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 4.67 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone-type Uranium-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find paramontroseite
Classic worldwide localities
- Colorado (USA)
- Utah (USA)
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone-type uranium-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where paramontroseite typically forms. If you start seeing montroseite, corvusite, hewettite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify paramontroseite?+
Where is paramontroseite found?+
How much is paramontroseite worth?+
Is paramontroseite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like paramontroseite?+
What minerals are found with paramontroseite?+
What kind of rock does paramontroseite form in?+
What is paramontroseite used for?+
Find paramontroseite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
