Vauquelinite is a rare lead copper chromate phosphate that typically forms distinctive greenish crusts or botryoidal coatings. It is most commonly found in the oxidized zones of lead-bearing ore deposits where it is often associated with crocoite.
Is this vauquelinite?
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 vauquelinite with a known reference. Vauquelinite sits at Mohs 2.5-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vauquelinite leaves a greenish-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vauquelinite typically shows a resinous to adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish-green, brownish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, botryoidal masses, and fine granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Vauquelinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Vauquelinite leaves greenish-yellow, Phoenicochroite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads resinous to adamantine on Vauquelinite and adamantine on Phoenicochroite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Vauquelinite leaves greenish-yellow, Crocoite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads resinous to adamantine on Vauquelinite and adamantine on Crocoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Vauquelinite leaves greenish-yellow, Mottramite leaves yellowish green; luster reads resinous to adamantine on Vauquelinite and greasy on Mottramite.
Often found alongside vauquelinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vauquelinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂Cu(CrO₄)(PO₄)OH
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 6.0-6.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Greenish-yellow
- Luster
- Resinous to Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, Botryoidal Masses, And Fine Granular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Lead-bearing Hydrothermal Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find vauquelinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Berezovskoye deposit, Russia
- Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, USA
- Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
- Friedrichssegen mine, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of lead-bearing hydrothermal ore deposits country — that is the host setting where vauquelinite typically forms. If you start seeing crocoite, pyromorphite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crusts, botryoidal masses, and fine granular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find vauquelinite on the map
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