Wakefieldite-(La) is a rare lanthanum vanadate mineral typically found as small, prismatic crystals within granite pegmatites. Collectors look for its characteristic tetragonal habit, often associated with other rare-earth minerals and quartz in altered zones of pegmatitic bodies.
Is this wakefieldite-(la)?
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 wakefieldite-(la) with a known reference. Wakefieldite-(La) 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. Wakefieldite-(La) leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wakefieldite-(La) typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tan, yellow, brown, white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals, often as microscopic aggregates.
Often confused with
Wakefieldite-(La) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Zircon is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 4-5).
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Wakefieldite-(La) and vitreous on Chernovite-(Y).
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Wakefieldite-(La) and vitreous on Xenotime-(Y).
Often found alongside wakefieldite-(la)
Minerals reported to co-occur with wakefieldite-(la). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- La(VO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 4.73 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to Acicular Crystals, Often as Microscopic Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None Observed; Possible {100} Inferred From X-ray Study
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
Where rockhounds find wakefieldite-(la)
Classic worldwide localities
- Glücksstern Mine, near the Gottlob quarry, Gottlob hill, Friedrichroda, Thuringia, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where wakefieldite-(la) typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, molybdenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic to acicular crystals, often as microscopic aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify wakefieldite-(la)?+
Where is wakefieldite-(la) found?+
What rocks look like wakefieldite-(la)?+
What minerals are found with wakefieldite-(la)?+
What kind of rock does wakefieldite-(la) form in?+
What is wakefieldite-(la) used for?+
Find wakefieldite-(la) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
