Volkonskoite is a rare chromium-bearing clay mineral known for its striking, intense green color. It typically occurs as massive coatings or crusts within sedimentary sequences and is historically prized as a pigment for oil painting.
Is this volkonskoite?
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 volkonskoite with a known reference. Volkonskoite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Volkonskoite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Volkonskoite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, emerald green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Volkonskoite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Volkonskoite leaves pale green, Celadonite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Volkonskoite leaves pale green, Chrysocolla leaves white; luster reads dull on Volkonskoite and vitreous on Chrysocolla.
Often found alongside volkonskoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with volkonskoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cr₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.2-2.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Pigment
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Rocks
- Typical price
- $20-200 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find volkonskoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Perm Krai, Russia
- Turkey
- Kenya
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary rocks country — that is the host setting where volkonskoite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify volkonskoite?+
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How much is volkonskoite worth?+
What rocks look like volkonskoite?+
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Find volkonskoite on the map
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