Udinaite is an extremely rare sodium magnesium vanadate found in high-temperature fumarole deposits. It typically occurs as small, pale yellow octahedral crystals associated with volcanic sublimation products.
Is this udinaite?
4-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 udinaite with a known reference. Udinaite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, pale yellow.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal.
Often confused with
Udinaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Spinel is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5-8 vs. 3.5).
How to tell apart: Magnesioferrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3.5); luster reads vitreous on Udinaite and metallic to semimetallic, may be dull on Magnesioferrite.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaMg₄(VO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.61 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- volcanic fumaroles
Where rockhounds find udinaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: volcanic fumaroles. If you start seeing tolbachik volcano, kamchatka peninsula, far-eastern region in float, you are in the right ground.
Common questions
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Find udinaite on the map
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