Phosphovanadylite-Ca is a rare phosphate mineral characterized by its vibrant blue, cubic-habit crystals. It is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors and is typically found as small crystalline crusts in iron-rich phosphate environments.
Is this phosphovanadylite-ca?
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 phosphovanadylite-ca with a known reference. Phosphovanadylite-Ca 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: very pale greenish blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: cubo-octahedral crystals, often as small drusy crusts.
Often confused with
Phosphovanadylite-Ca vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Phosphovanadylite-Ba is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2).
How to tell apart: Vauxite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Phosphovanadylite-Ca leaves very pale greenish blue, Vauxite leaves white.
Often found alongside phosphovanadylite-ca
Minerals reported to co-occur with phosphovanadylite-ca. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaV₄P₂O₁₀(OH)₆·12H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.02 g/cm³
- Colors
- Bright greenish blue
- Streak
- Very pale greenish blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Cubo-octahedral crystals, often as small drusy crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Crystallized at ambient temperatures from late-stage aqueous solutions of near neutral pH under relatively reducing conditions in phosphatic black mudstone
Where rockhounds find phosphovanadylite-ca
Classic worldwide localities
- South Rasmussen (or South Rasmussen Ridge) phosphate mine, Soda Springs, Caribou County, Idaho, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Crystallized at ambient temperatures from late-stage aqueous solutions of near neutral pH under relatively reducing conditions in phosphatic black mudstone. If you start seeing quartz, fluorapatite, hydroxylapatite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: cubo-octahedral crystals, often as small drusy crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify phosphovanadylite-ca?+
Where is phosphovanadylite-ca found?+
Is phosphovanadylite-ca safe to handle?+
What rocks look like phosphovanadylite-ca?+
What minerals are found with phosphovanadylite-ca?+
What kind of rock does phosphovanadylite-ca form in?+
What is phosphovanadylite-ca used for?+
Find phosphovanadylite-ca on the map
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