Vránaite is a rare aluminum silicate. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2016, from material found in Madagascar.
Is this vránaite?
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 vránaite with a known reference. Vránaite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Vránaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vránaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vránaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₁₆B₄Si₄O₃₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 2.99 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A breakdown product of spodumene in an elbaite-subtype granitic pegmatite
Where rockhounds find vránaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Manjaka pegmatite, Sahatany Valley, Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A breakdown product of spodumene in an elbaite-subtype granitic pegmatite. If you start seeing albite, k-feldspar, spodumene in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vránaite?+
Where is vránaite found?+
What rocks look like vránaite?+
What minerals are found with vránaite?+
What kind of rock does vránaite form in?+
What is vránaite used for?+
Find vránaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
