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, so 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, so 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, so 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, 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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