KARELIANITE

    Class : Oxides and hydroxides
    Subclass : Oxides
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : V2O3
    Rarity : Very rare

Karelianite is an extremely rare vanadium oxide which has a crystal structure identical to that of corundum. It forms in varied geological conditions : high temperature tactites, primary unoxidized uranium-vanadium ore, vanadiferous bitumens, hydrothermal veins. The associated minerals obviously vary depending on the context : sulphides, graphite, pitchblende, tremolite, etc... Its name comes from its locality of discovery : the Outokumpu schists (Karelia, Finland). It is only known in prismatic grains or acicular aggregates not exceeding 0.5 mm, black in color and very high hardness (8 to 9).

Main photo : Karelianite from St-Andréasberg, Saxony, Germany © R. Hochleitner

Karelianite in the World

Karelianite is present in the tactites of Outokumpu (Finland), its type locality, but also in Mounana (Gabon), Guangxi (China), St-Andréasberg (Germany) and Hemlo (Canada).

Karelianite in France

Karelianite is not present in the French underground.

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 8 to 9
Density : 4.95
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : Black

TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : -
Optical character : -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None