Shcherbinaite is a rare vanadium oxide mineral primarily found as yellow acicular crystals or crusts in high-temperature fumarole environments. It is highly sensitive to humidity and can be unstable, often requiring sealed storage to prevent alteration in the presence of moisture.
Is this shcherbinaite?
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 shcherbinaite with a known reference. Shcherbinaite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Shcherbinaite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Shcherbinaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, efflorescences, crusts.
Often confused with
Shcherbinaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Vanadinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Shcherbinaite leaves pale yellow, Vanadinite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Shcherbinaite and resinous on Vanadinite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Shcherbinaite leaves pale yellow, Sulfur leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Shcherbinaite and resinous on Sulfur.
Often found alongside shcherbinaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with shcherbinaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- V₂O₅
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 3.31 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Efflorescences, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Fumarolic Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find shcherbinaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bezymyanny volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
- Izalco volcano, El Salvador
- Mount Vesuvius, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in fumarolic deposits country, the host setting where shcherbinaite typically forms. If you start seeing thenardite, stoiberite, fingerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, efflorescences, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find shcherbinaite on the map
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