Vésigniéite is a rare copper-barium vanadate that typically forms small, bright yellow to yellow-green tabular crystals. Collectors primarily look for it in the oxidized zones of base metal deposits where it occurs as crusts or tiny, attractive rosettes associated with other secondary minerals.
Is this vésigniéite?
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 vésigniéite with a known reference. Vésigniéite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: greenish.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow green, dark green, olive green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, lamellar, platy.
Often confused with
Vésigniéite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vésigniéite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vésigniéite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaCu₃(VO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.56 g/cm³
- Streak
- Greenish
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals, lamellar, platy
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect; {110}, imperfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral formed in copper-bearing U–V deposits
Where rockhounds find vésigniéite
Classic worldwide localities
- Paradox Bell mine, Paradox Valley, Montrose Co., Colorado, USA
- Monument #1 mine, Navajo Co., from the Ridenaur breccia pipe, Coconino Co., and about six km south of Mercer Ranch, Copper Creek district, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
- Gold Quarry mine, near Carlin, Maggie Creek district, and the Goldstrike mine, Lynn district, Eureka Co., Nevada, USA
- Perm, Ural Mountains, Russia
- Agalyk U–V deposit, Kara-Tyube Mountains, 15 km south of Samarkand, Uzbekistan
- Vrančice, about 15 km south-southeast of Příbram, Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral formed in copper-bearing U–V deposits. If you start seeing volborthite, malachite, tyuyamunite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, lamellar, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vésigniéite?+
Where is vésigniéite found?+
Is vésigniéite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like vésigniéite?+
What minerals are found with vésigniéite?+
What kind of rock does vésigniéite form in?+
What is vésigniéite used for?+
Find vésigniéite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
