Vanadinite

Vanadinite is a mineral with the formula (PbCl)Pb₄(VO₄)₃, composed of lead chloride and lead vanadate in a proportion of 90.2% to 9.8%. It has hexagonal crystals, usually prismatic but the crystals are often skeletal or cavernous and it may be found in crusts. It is brittle and has an uneven fracture. The hardness of vanadinite is 2.75-3 and its specific gravity is 6.7-7.2. It has a resinous lustre and is coloured yellow, yellowish-brown, reddish-brown or red. It is translucent or opaque.

Vanadinite is not a common mineral, occurring as an alteration product in lead deposits. It is found in the Ural Mountains, Austria, Spain, Scotland, the Transvaal, Morocco, Argentina, Mexico and in the United States]' states Arizona, New Mexico and South Dakota. It is used as an ore of vanadium and to some extent of lead as well. The mineral was first described as a chromate when it was discovered in Mexico in 1801, as the metal vanadium was not itself discovered until 1830.