Identification guide · Vanadate Minerals
How to Identify Vanadinite
Vanadinite is usually red, orange, and brown with a resinous luster and is translucent. It has a Mohs hardness of 3. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Its streak is brownish yellow. It is most often confused with Mimetite, Wulfenite, and Orpiment; the tests below separate them.
Vanadinite identification checklist
| Color | Red, Orange, Brown, Yellow | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Resinous | Compare a fresh surface with glass and metal; this luster is softer than either. |
| Transparency | Translucent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 3 | A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. |
| Streak | Brownish yellow | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | None | |
| Fracture | Uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 6.9 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 6.9). |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal |
Vanadinite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Vanadinite vs Mimetite →
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Vanadinite vs Wulfenite →
Vanadinite is harder (Mohs 3) than Orpiment (Mohs 1.75), so Vanadinite will scratch Orpiment and not the other way round. A fingernail (Mohs 2.5) scratches it easily. Vanadinite vs Orpiment →
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
Field tips
- Look for bright red to orange hexagonal prismatic crystals with a resinous luster.
- Unusually high density from lead content helps distinguish vanadinite from similar minerals.
- Occurrence in oxidized lead deposits and a brownish yellow streak support identification.
Vanadinite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Vanadinite?
Check the color (red, orange, brown, and yellow), the resinous luster, a Mohs hardness of 3 and a brownish yellow streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Vanadinite?
Vanadinite has a Mohs hardness of 3. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
What is the difference between Vanadinite and Mimetite?
Vanadinite (Mohs 3, resinous luster) and Mimetite (Mohs 3.75, resinous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Vanadinite vs Mimetite comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Vanadinite worth anything?
Entry-level Vanadinite specimens sell for around $10, typical collector pieces about $60, and premium examples $500 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Vanadinite?
Vanadinite is most often red, orange, brown, and yellow. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
