This page brings together 14 minerals that begin with the letter V, ranging alphabetically from “Vanadinite” to “Vrbaite.” These minerals come in a wide range of colors and forms, from bright red crystals to soft, flaky sheets. Many are valued as gemstones, prized by collectors, or used in practical ways like insulation, gardening, and the extraction of metals.
Minerals are naturally occurring solid substances with a defined chemical makeup and an orderly internal structure. People have collected and worked with them for thousands of years, both for beauty and for the metals they hold. Vesuvianite, for example, was named after Mount Vesuvius, the famous volcano in Italy.
Below you’ll find the table with the Mineral and Description columns.
Mineral: This shows the name of each mineral so you can quickly scan the list and find the exact one you’re looking for.
Description: This gives you a short, plain-language summary of each mineral’s color, how it forms, and what people use it for.
Minerals
Mineral
Vanadinite
Variscite
Vesuvianite
Vivianite
Villiaumite
Vauxite
Veszelyite
Volborthite
Valentinite
Vaterite
Vermiculite
Violarite
Vanthoffite
Vrbaite
Descriptions
Vanadinite
A bright red to orange lead-vanadium mineral that forms striking hexagonal crystals, often found in arid regions. It’s a minor ore of vanadium and a favorite among mineral collectors.
Variscite
A green to bluish-green phosphate mineral resembling turquoise, often used as a gemstone and in carvings. It typically forms in cavities of phosphate-rich rocks.
Vesuvianite
A green, brown, or yellow silicate mineral also known as idocrase, named after Mount Vesuvius. It forms in metamorphosed limestones and is sometimes cut as a gem.
Vivianite
A hydrated iron phosphate that starts colorless but turns deep blue or green when exposed to light. It often forms in clay, peat bogs, and on fossilized bone.
Villiaumite
A rare soft sodium fluoride mineral, usually deep red or pink, found in alkaline igneous rocks. It is water-soluble and somewhat toxic.
Vauxite
A rare blue hydrated iron-aluminum phosphate that forms small crystals, named after British mineral collector George Vaux. It is found chiefly in Bolivia.
Veszelyite
A blue to green copper-zinc phosphate mineral that forms small, glassy crystals. It is prized by collectors for its vivid color and rarity.
Volborthite
A green to yellow-green copper vanadate mineral that forms thin, scaly crystals. It occurs in oxidized zones of vanadium- and copper-bearing deposits.
Valentinite
A white antimony oxide mineral that forms in the oxidation zone of antimony ore deposits. It often appears as thin, bladed or fan-shaped crystals.
Vaterite
An unstable form of calcium carbonate that often converts to calcite or aragonite over time. It appears in some shells, gallstones, and laboratory settings.
Vermiculite
A soft, flaky mineral that dramatically expands when heated, making it useful for insulation and gardening. It forms from the weathering of certain micas.
Violarite
A nickel-iron sulfide mineral with a violet-gray metallic luster, often found alongside other nickel ores. It forms as an alteration product of pentlandite.
Vanthoffite
A white sodium-magnesium sulfate mineral that forms in marine salt deposits. It is associated with other evaporite minerals like halite and anhydrite.
Vrbaite
A rare dark gray thallium-arsenic-antimony sulfosalt mineral. It is found in only a few localities and is sought after by serious collectors.
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