$230Median
3Sold (12 mo)
$265Last sale
Vauquelinite specimens for sale
2 for sale · $2,000–$2,300 USD
12 in the gallery
Vauquelinite is a phosphate-oxide mineral with a monoclinic crystal system. It commonly presents as brown to black stones with a resinous to adamantine luster, and a translucent to transparent appearance in well-formed crystals. The mineral forms in rare, copper-rich and lead-rich hydrothermal environments, often displaying a reniform habit and a compact, granular to smooth surface on exposed faces. Its dark color and high specific gravity reflect the presence of lead and copper in its complex structure, with a brown streak that helps distinguish it from related phosphates.
- Formula
- Pb2Cu(CrO4)(PO4)(OH)
- Rarity
- Rare
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- High Interest
- Classification notes
- Compound Phosphates, etc.
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- monoclinic
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5–3
- Specific gravity
- 6
- Luster
- adamantine, resinous
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Color
- black, brown, green
- Streak
- brown
- Cleavage
- indistinct
- Fracture
- uneven
- Crystal habit
- reniform
- Classic / historic
Buy Vauquelinite specimens
View all 2About Vauquelinite
Historically notable specimens of vauquelinite have been reported from Russia and Germany, where hydrothermal deposits have yielded compact clusters and crusts featuring this mineral. Collectors value vauquelinite for its unusual combination of color, luster, and habit, as well as the contrast between its opaque body color and the occasional translucent edge on sharp crystals. While not a common secondary mineral, when vauquelinite occurs it often coexists with other phosphates and copper-bearing minerals, offering an engaging window into specialized mineral parageneses and the chemistry of complex lead-copper phosphate systems.
