Tivanite is a rare vanadium-titanium hydroxide mineral characterized by its black, prismatic crystal habit and submetallic luster. It is primarily known from the Kambalda region of Western Australia, where it occurs within hydrothermal veins associated with ultramafic rocks. Due to its scarcity, it is considered a specialty species sought after primarily by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this tivanite?
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 tivanite with a known reference. Tivanite sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tivanite leaves a brownish black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tivanite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Tivanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Tivanite leaves brownish black, Manaccanite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Tivanite leaves brownish black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads submetallic on Tivanite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside tivanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tivanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- VTiO₃(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 4.8-4.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Ultramafic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find tivanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kambalda, Western Australia
- Widgiemooltha, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in ultramafic rocks country — that is the host setting where tivanite typically forms. If you start seeing karelianite, guanajuatite, clinochlore in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tivanite on the map
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