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. Sulvanite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sulvanite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze, copper-red, grayish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rare tetrahedral crystals.
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
- 4.26 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rare Tetrahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Sedimentary Copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find sulvanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Burra, South Australia
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
- Moab, Utah, USA
- Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, sedimentary copper deposits country — that is the host setting where sulvanite typically forms. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, bornite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rare tetrahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sulvanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
