Safron yellow crystal group of the very rare V-Al oxide mineral satpaevite from the type locality in Kurumsak, Kazakhstan. Only 3 known localities worldwide. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Satpaevite
Satpaevite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Al₁₂(V⁴⁺,V⁵⁺)₈O₃₇·30H₂O.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 1.5; specific gravity 2.4; Pearly on the cleavage; dull when fine-grained luster; optically isotropic.
IMA symbol Spv, IMA status: questionable, named in 1959.
Found in the oxidation zone of a vanadiferous clay-anthraxolite horizon.
It is found associated with Steigerite, vanalite, hewettite, delvauxite, gypsum.
The mineral was named to honor Kanysh Imantaevich Satpaev (1899–1964), Kazakhstani geologist, Institute of Geosciences, Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan.