Identification guide · Silicate Minerals
How to Identify Vesuvianite
Vesuvianite is usually green, brown, and yellow with a vitreous luster and is translucent. It has a Mohs hardness of 6.5. It scratches glass and a steel knife and cannot be scratched by a steel file. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Grossular, Calcite, and Diopside; the tests below separate them.
Vesuvianite identification checklist
| Color | Green, Brown, Yellow, Blue | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Vitreous | Fresh surfaces shine like glass; a dull surface usually means weathering, so chip or wet a corner. |
| Transparency | Translucent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 6.5 | It scratches glass and a steel knife and cannot be scratched by a steel file. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Poor | |
| Fracture | Uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 3.4 | Heavier than it looks (specific gravity about 3.4). |
| Crystal system | Tetragonal |
Vesuvianite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 6.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Vesuvianite vs Grossular →
Vesuvianite is harder (Mohs 6.5) than Calcite (Mohs 3), so Vesuvianite will scratch Calcite and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Vesuvianite vs Calcite →
Both sit near Mohs 6.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Vesuvianite vs Diopside →
Both sit near Mohs 6.5, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Vesuvianite vs Epidote →
Field tips
- Look for stout prismatic tetragonal crystals or massive aggregates with a vitreous luster.
- Green to brown color and occurrence in skarns help distinguish vesuvianite from garnet.
- Hardness near 6.5 and poor cleavage support identification.
Vesuvianite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Vesuvianite?
Check the color (green, brown, yellow, and blue), the vitreous luster, a Mohs hardness of 6.5 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Vesuvianite?
Vesuvianite has a Mohs hardness of 6.5. It scratches glass and a steel knife and cannot be scratched by a steel file.
What is the difference between Vesuvianite and Grossular?
Vesuvianite (Mohs 6.5, vitreous luster) and Grossular (Mohs 6.5–7.5, vitreous to resinous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Vesuvianite vs Grossular comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Vesuvianite worth anything?
Entry-level Vesuvianite specimens sell for around $10, typical collector pieces about $55, and premium examples $350 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Vesuvianite?
Vesuvianite is most often green, brown, yellow, and blue. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
