Okieite is a magnesium vanadate, typically bright red. Associated minerals include dickthomssenite, montroseite and corvusite. It was first described from the Burro mine, Slick Rock district, San Miguel Co., Colorado, USA.
Is this okieite?
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 okieite with a known reference. Okieite sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Okieite leaves a light orange-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Okieite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright red, red-orange, yellow-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Okieite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Jasper is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Okieite leaves light orange-yellow, Jasper leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Okieite and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Flint Nodule is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 1.5); streak differs, so Okieite leaves light orange-yellow, Flint Nodule leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Okieite and waxy on Flint Nodule.
Often found alongside okieite
Minerals reported to co-occur with okieite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- [Mg₃(H₂O)₁₈][V₁₀O₂₈]·10H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 2.20 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light Orange-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Strata
Where rockhounds find okieite
Classic worldwide localities
- Oklahoma
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary strata country, the host setting where okieite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, dolomite 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
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Find okieite on the map
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