Stibivanite is a rare antimony vanadium oxide mineral found in complex hydrothermal settings. It typically forms as delicate bladed crystals or radial sprays with an adamantine luster, making it a sought-after curiosity for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this stibivanite?
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 stibivanite with a known reference. Stibivanite 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. Stibivanite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stibivanite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow, orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: bladed crystals, radial aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Stibivanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Stibivanite leaves yellow, Stibiconite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Stibivanite and dull on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stibivanite leaves yellow, Valentinite leaves white.
Often found alongside stibivanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stibivanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sb₂VSbO₅
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 4.92 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed Crystals, Radial Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Antimony Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find stibivanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal antimony deposits country, the host setting where stibivanite typically forms. If you start seeing stibiconite, valentinite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a bladed crystals, radial aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find stibivanite on the map
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