Vanoxite is a rare hydrated vanadium oxide often found as earthy, black crusts or impregnations within sedimentary sandstone layers. It is typically associated with other vanadium-bearing minerals and is primarily of interest to collectors of rare secondary uranium-vanadium species.
Is this vanoxite?
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 vanoxite with a known reference. Vanoxite sits at Mohs 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vanoxite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vanoxite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: massive, powdery, or earthy aggregates.
Often confused with
Vanoxite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Montroseite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads dull on Vanoxite and metallic on Montroseite.
How to tell apart: Pyrolusite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads dull on Vanoxite and metallic on Pyrolusite.
Often found alongside vanoxite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vanoxite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- V₄V₂O₁₃·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.3-3.6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Powdery, Or Earthy Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone-hosted Uranium-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen depending on association
Where rockhounds find vanoxite
Classic worldwide localities
- Colorado, USA
- Utah, USA
- Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone-hosted uranium-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where vanoxite typically forms. If you start seeing montroseite, corvusite, pyrolusite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, powdery, or earthy aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find vanoxite on the map
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