Bluestreakite is a rare, vibrant blue vanadium mineral that typically occurs as delicate, fibrous radial sprays or acicular crusts on sandstone. It is most commonly found in the Colorado Plateau's uranium-vanadium deposits, where it forms as a secondary mineral in oxidized zones.
Is this bluestreakite?
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 bluestreakite with a known reference. Bluestreakite 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: light blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: very dark greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous radial sprays.
Often confused with
Bluestreakite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bluestreakite leaves light blue, Pascoite leaves cadmium-yellow; luster reads subadamantine on Bluestreakite and vitreous to subadamantine on Pascoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bluestreakite leaves light blue, Sherwoodite leaves pale blue; luster reads subadamantine on Bluestreakite and vitreous to earthy on Sherwoodite.
Often found alongside bluestreakite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bluestreakite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₄Mg₂[(V₂V₈)O₂₈]·14H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 2.350 g/cm³
- Colors
- Very dark greenish blue
- Streak
- Light blue
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or fibrous radial sprays
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of roll-front U-V deposit in corvusite-montroseite-bearing sandstone
Where rockhounds find bluestreakite
Classic worldwide localities
- Blue Streak mine, Bull Canyon, Montrose County, Colorado, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of roll-front U-V deposit in corvusite-montroseite-bearing sandstone. If you start seeing gypsum, huemulite, hummerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous radial sprays. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bluestreakite?+
Where is bluestreakite found?+
Is bluestreakite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bluestreakite?+
What minerals are found with bluestreakite?+
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Find bluestreakite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
