Vanadinite

Crystal system · Hexagonal

Vanadinite is a vanadate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with known Chinese sources.

Front view of glassy vanadinite crystals on black matrix from Daye

Deep red hexagonal vanadinite crystals on layered barite matrix, Morocco

Deep red vanadinite crystal cluster from Mibladen Mining District, Morocco

Front view of vibrant red vanadinite crystal cluster from Morocco

Deep red hexagonal vanadinite crystal cluster from Morocco

Vanadinite deep red crystals on black barite matrix, Morocco

Lead chlorovanadate, bright red to orange-red; hexagonal.

About Vanadiniteextended article

Vanadinite is a lead vanadate of the apatite supergroup and the principal ore of vanadium. Bright orange-red hexagonal prisms perched on barite or quartz matrix – usually small but extraordinarily saturated in color – have made it one of the iconic photogenic specimens in collecting. Mibladen and Touissit in Morocco are the world references; Chinese occurrences are minor and sporadic.

Notable varieties

Endlichite (As-rich variety; gradational toward Mimetite)
Cavernous skeletal crystals (Apache Mine, Arizona)

The Chinese angle

Chinese vanadinite occurrences are minor and not internationally significant. Reports from Qinglong (Guizhou) and small Hunan localities exist but yield is sporadic and generally non-collector grade. Most vanadinite in the international collector market traces to Mibladen, Touissit, or Apache Mine. This species is included in the encyclopedia for completeness rather than for Chinese specimen significance.

About Vanadinite

Vanadinite is a vanadate mineral in the apatite supergroup and has the chemical formula Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl. It crystallizes in the hexagonal system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.

Identification & care

Vanadinite typically forms short prismatic to tabular hexagonal crystals; hollow tubular crystals (distinctive); globular. Its color range is broad, including orange-red, red-brown, bright red, yellow, whitish, and pale straw-yellow to colourless in transmitted light. The luster is sub-adamantine, resinous, the streak is white to yellow, and specimens range from transparent to translucent. The fracture is uneven, which is one of its key identifying features.

Collector context

How it forms

Vanadinite forms in secondary mineral in oxidized zones of lead ore deposits (desert environments favor formation). It is commonly found in association with wulfenite, mimetite, cerussite, pyromorphite, barite.

Classic Chinese localities

Vanadinite is widely represented across Chinese provinces, including Yunnan, Gansu, Guizhou, Guangdong.

Why collectors care

Vanadinite is a frequently-sought species in serious collections because its habit is recognizable, its color often strong, and its best examples unmistakable even at a distance. Chinese material has driven much of the recent visual shift in the species — sharper crystals, deeper colors, cleaner matrix.

What affects value

Value in Vanadinite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.

Naming history

The name Vanadinite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.