Pliniusite is a rare calcium vanadate mineral originally discovered in the volcanic fumaroles of Vesuvius. It typically occurs as minute, thin tabular crystals that exhibit a distinct resinous luster and warm yellow to brownish hues. Collectors primarily seek it as an extreme rarity from historical volcanic localities.
Is this pliniusite?
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 pliniusite with a known reference. Pliniusite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pliniusite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pliniusite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Pliniusite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pliniusite leaves yellow, Vanadinite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pliniusite leaves yellow, Descloizite leaves orange to brownish-red; luster reads resinous on Pliniusite and greasy to adamantine on Descloizite.
Often found alongside pliniusite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pliniusite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaV₂O₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.15 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Volcanic Fumaroles
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find pliniusite
Classic worldwide localities
- Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in volcanic fumaroles country, the host setting where pliniusite typically forms. If you start seeing pyroxene, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find pliniusite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
