Sulvanite is a rare copper vanadium sulfide that typically appears as massive, bronze-colored grains within hydrothermal veins. It is most easily identified by its distinct metallic luster and association with other copper sulfides, though it is often difficult to distinguish from similar species without analytical methods.
Is this sulvanite?
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 sulvanite with a known reference. Sulvanite sits at Mohs 3.5, 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, tarnishes to dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze, steel gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: crystalline, massive.
Often confused with
Sulvanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sulvanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sulvanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₃VS₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.86-4.00 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic, tarnishes to dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal copper deposits which contain vanadium as a primary sulfide
Where rockhounds find sulvanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Thorpe Hills, and near Mercur, Tooele Co., Utah, USA
- Redhouse Barite mine, near Golconda, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
- Edelweiss mine, Burra district, South Australia (type locality)
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Kipushi, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire)
- Oyu Tolgoi porphyry Cu–Au deposit, Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal copper deposits which contain vanadium as a primary sulfide. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, chalcocite, digenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sulvanite?+
Where is sulvanite found?+
Is sulvanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like sulvanite?+
What minerals are found with sulvanite?+
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What is sulvanite used for?+
Find sulvanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
