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 — Stibivanite leaves yellow, Stibiconite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Stibivanite and dull on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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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