Vanarsite is a rare vanadium-bearing mineral typically found as dark green to black earthy crusts or acicular aggregates in vanadium-rich sandstone deposits. It is known primarily from the Colorado Plateau region and requires careful identification due to its similarity to other secondary vanadium minerals.
Is this vanarsite?
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 vanarsite with a known reference. Vanarsite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vanarsite leaves a yellowish-green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vanarsite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, aggregates of lath-like crystals.
Often confused with
Vanarsite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Vanarsite leaves yellowish-green, Pascoite leaves yellow; luster reads resinous on Vanarsite and vitreous on Pascoite.
How to tell apart: Vanarsite is noticeably harder (Mohs 2 vs. approx 1); streak differs, so Vanarsite leaves yellowish-green, Hewettite leaves brownish red; luster reads resinous on Vanarsite and pearly on Hewettite.
Often found alongside vanarsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vanarsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (H₄V¹⁰O₂₈)·10H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.81 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-green
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, Aggregates of Lath-like Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find vanarsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vanadium Queen Mine, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone country, the host setting where vanarsite typically forms. If you start seeing gypsum, barite, montroseite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crusts, aggregates of lath-like crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find vanarsite on the map
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