Schreyerite is an extremely rare vanadium-titanium oxide mineral typically found as small, reddish brown, opaque grains within metamorphic gneisses. It was first described from the Mutuca mine in Kenya and remains a highly sought-after specimen for advanced mineral collectors due to its unique vanadium chemistry.
Is this schreyerite?
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 schreyerite with a known reference. Schreyerite sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Schreyerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside schreyerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schreyerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- V₂Ti₃O₉
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 4.46 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In quartz-biotite-sillimanite-diopside-epidote gneiss in contact with quartzite, formed above 600°C and 5 kbar (Lasamba Hill, Kenya); in quartzitic schists (Ol’khon Gate Straits, Lake Baikal, Russia)
Where rockhounds find schreyerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Six km southeast of Lasamba Hill, Kwale district, south of Voi, Kenya
- Komolo, Tanzania
- Sätra mine, Doverstorp, Bergslagen metallic province, Sweden
- Found 4.5 km south of the Ol’khon Gate Strait, on the western shore of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In quartz-biotite-sillimanite-diopside-epidote gneiss in contact with quartzite, formed above 600°C and 5 kbar (Lasamba Hill, Kenya); in quartzitic schists (Ol’khon Gate Straits, Lake Baikal, Russia). If you start seeing vanadian rutile, kornerupine, kyanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify schreyerite?+
Where is schreyerite found?+
Is schreyerite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like schreyerite?+
What minerals are found with schreyerite?+
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Find schreyerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
