Volborthite is a secondary vanadium mineral typically found as vibrant green to yellow crusts or botryoidal coatings in oxidized copper deposits. Collectors usually search for its characteristic radiating habit or crystalline aggregates often associated with other copper minerals. It is sought after for its distinct color and structural beauty, though it requires careful handling due to its heavy metal content.
Is this volborthite?
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 volborthite with a known reference. Volborthite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Volborthite leaves a yellowish-green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Volborthite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, green, olive-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, radial aggregates, platy crystals.
Often confused with
Volborthite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Volborthite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Volborthite leaves yellowish-green, Tyuyamunite leaves yellow; luster reads vitreous on Volborthite and pearly on Tyuyamunite.
How to tell apart: Volborthite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Volborthite leaves yellowish-green, Carnotite leaves yellow; luster reads vitreous on Volborthite and dull on Carnotite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Volborthite leaves yellowish-green, Malachite leaves light green.
Often found alongside volborthite
Minerals reported to co-occur with volborthite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₃(V₂O₇)(OH)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 3.5-3.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, Crusts, Radial Aggregates, Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Copper-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for specimens
Where rockhounds find volborthite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ural Mountains, Russia
- Grand County, Utah, USA
- Montrose County, Colorado, USA
- Katanga Province, DR Congo
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of copper-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where volborthite typically forms. If you start seeing cuprite, azurite, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a botryoidal, crusts, radial aggregates, platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find volborthite on the map
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