Volkonskoite is a rare chromium-bearing clay mineral known for its striking, intense green color. It typically occurs as massive coatings or crusts within sedimentary sequences and is historically prized as a pigment for oil painting.
Is this volkonskoite?
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 volkonskoite with a known reference. Volkonskoite sits at Mohs 1, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Volkonskoite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Volkonskoite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, emerald green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Volkonskoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Celadonite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2 vs. 1); streak differs, so Volkonskoite leaves pale green, Celadonite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Glauconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2 vs. 1).
How to tell apart: Chrysocolla is the harder of the two (Mohs 2-4 vs. 1); streak differs, so Volkonskoite leaves pale green, Chrysocolla leaves white; luster reads dull on Volkonskoite and vitreous on Chrysocolla.
Often found alongside volkonskoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with volkonskoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₀.₃(Cr,Mg)₂(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(OH)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1
- Density
- 2.2-2.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Pigment
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Rocks
Where rockhounds find volkonskoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Perm Krai, Russia
- Turkey
- Kenya
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary rocks country, the host setting where volkonskoite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, gypsum 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
How do you identify volkonskoite?+
Where is volkonskoite found?+
What rocks look like volkonskoite?+
What minerals are found with volkonskoite?+
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What is volkonskoite used for?+
Find volkonskoite on the map
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