Phosphovanadylite-Ba is a rare secondary phosphate mineral found primarily in unique sedimentary environments where vanadium-rich solutions interact with phosphate minerals. It is best identified by its vibrant green, square-shaped, transparent cubic crystals often forming on matrix with other secondary minerals. Due to its scarcity and delicate nature, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this phosphovanadylite-ba?
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 phosphovanadylite-ba with a known reference. Phosphovanadylite-Ba sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Phosphovanadylite-Ba leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Phosphovanadylite-Ba typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: cubo-octahedral crystals, often as small, delicate, square-shaped tabular forms.
Often confused with
Phosphovanadylite-Ba vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Phosphovanadylite-Ba leaves pale green, Phosphovanadylite-Ca leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Phosphovanadylite-Ba leaves pale green, Vashegyite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Phosphovanadylite-Ba and dull on Vashegyite.
Often found alongside phosphovanadylite-ba
Minerals reported to co-occur with phosphovanadylite-ba. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba(V⁴⁺O)₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.84 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Cubo-octahedral Crystals, Often as Small, Delicate, Square-shaped Tabular Forms
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate-rich Sedimentary Concretions and Hydrothermal Fractures
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find phosphovanadylite-ba
Classic worldwide localities
- Big Fish River, Yukon Territory, Canada
- Spring Creek, Queensland, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate-rich sedimentary concretions and hydrothermal fractures country — that is the host setting where phosphovanadylite-ba typically forms. If you start seeing vauxite, paravauxite, metavauxite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a cubo-octahedral crystals, often as small, delicate, square-shaped tabular forms habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify phosphovanadylite-ba?+
Where is phosphovanadylite-ba found?+
How much is phosphovanadylite-ba worth?+
What rocks look like phosphovanadylite-ba?+
What minerals are found with phosphovanadylite-ba?+
What kind of rock does phosphovanadylite-ba form in?+
What is phosphovanadylite-ba used for?+
Find phosphovanadylite-ba on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
