Sherwoodite is a rare calcium vanadate mineral that typically occurs as vibrant blue, thin tabular crystals or as efflorescent crusts on sandstone. It is most commonly found in the vanadium-rich uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau, where it forms in oxidized zones of ore bodies.
Is this sherwoodite?
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 sherwoodite with a known reference. Sherwoodite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sherwoodite leaves a light blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sherwoodite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, turquoise.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, or coatings.
Often confused with
Sherwoodite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Sherwoodite leaves light blue, Corvusite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Sherwoodite and dull on Corvusite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Sherwoodite leaves light blue, Pascoite leaves yellow.
How to tell apart: Sherwoodite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2 vs. approx 1); streak differs — Sherwoodite leaves light blue, Hewettite leaves brownish red; luster reads vitreous on Sherwoodite and pearly on Hewettite.
Often found alongside sherwoodite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sherwoodite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄.₅(V₄O₁₂)₂(V₁₀O₂₈)·28H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.36 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light Blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Or Coatings
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Vanadium-uranium Sandstone Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on quality and size
Where rockhounds find sherwoodite
Classic worldwide localities
- Colorado Plateau, USA
- Jo Dandy Claim, Colorado, USA
- Bull Canyon, Colorado, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in vanadium-uranium sandstone deposits country — that is the host setting where sherwoodite typically forms. If you start seeing hewettite, corvusite, pascoite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, or coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sherwoodite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
