Wernerbaurite is a rare secondary vanadium mineral that forms in oxidized zones of uranium-vanadium bearing sandstones. It typically presents as small, fragile yellow-to-brown tabular crystals or crusts that are highly soluble and sensitive to atmospheric humidity.
Is this wernerbaurite?
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 wernerbaurite with a known reference. Wernerbaurite 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. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, crusts.
Often confused with
Wernerbaurite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wernerbaurite leaves yellow, Pascoite leaves cadmium-yellow; luster reads subadamantine on Wernerbaurite and vitreous to subadamantine on Pascoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wernerbaurite leaves yellow, Sherwoodite leaves pale blue; luster reads subadamantine on Wernerbaurite and vitreous to earthy on Sherwoodite.
Often found alongside wernerbaurite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wernerbaurite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (NH₄)₂Ca₂[V₁₀O₂₈]·16H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 2.352 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, crusts
- Cleavage
- Good on {100} and {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary sandstone deposits
Where rockhounds find wernerbaurite
Classic worldwide localities
- St. Jude mine, Slick Rock district, San Miguel County, Colorado, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Sedimentary sandstone deposits. If you start seeing calciodelrioite, gypsum, huemulite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify wernerbaurite?+
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What rocks look like wernerbaurite?+
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Find wernerbaurite on the map
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