How do I identify Rakovanite?

Rakovanite can be identified by its hardness of 1 on the Mohs scale, orange color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Rakovanite?

Rakovanite typically appears in orange. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Rakovanite?

Rakovanite has a hardness of 1 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Rakovanite

A variety of Minerals

What is Rakovanite?

Rakovanite, Na3{H3[V10O28]}•15H20, is a member of the pascoite family. It is a transparent, brittle mineral occurring in the monoclinic crystal system. It is orange in color and has an orange-yellow colored streak. Rakovanite is soft with a Mohs hardness of 1 and a calculated density of 2.407g cm. It does not fluoresce in long- or short-wave ultraviolet radiation. Rakovanite crystals are up to one mm in maximum dimension and vary in habit from blocky to prismatic on [001], commonly exhibiting steps and striations parallel to [001]. Its name honors John Rakovan, professor, Department of Geology and Environmental Earth Science, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, US.

Rakovanite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Rakovanite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Rakovanite Localities Map

See where Rakovanite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Formation of Rakovanite

Rakovanite was found on specimens from the Sunday mine and the West Sunday mine, Slick Rock district, San Miguel County, Colorado, US. It occurs as crystalline crusts on sandstone fractures in the mine walls of the Sunday and West Sunday mines. The best crystals were found perched on an amorphous dehydrated vanadium phase along with crystals tightly adhered to a corvusite-montroseite matrix. It forms from the oxidation of montroseite-corvusite assemblages. It is associated calcite, corvusite, hewettite, hughesite, montroseite, munirite, paramontroseite, pascoite, rossite, sherwoodite, and other unidentified vanadium phases as well as at least two other potentially new decavanadate species. It forms aqueous solutions of relatively low pH when water reacts with pyrite in the deposit under ambient temperatures and generally oxidizing near-surface environments.

Composition of Rakovanite

Empirical formula (based on V = 10 apfu): (Na2.90K0.07Ca0.01Al0.01)ε2.99{H2.98[V10O28]}•15H2O; the ideal formula is Na3{H3[V10O28]}•15H2O calculated as ideal value for Na3{H3[V10O28]}•15H2O. Composition normalized to 100% using ideal H2O value from crystal structure results.