This series is a little different than most chemical series which involve substitution of cations such as calcium for magnesium. Pyromorphite can make identification between the two difficult, but usually pyromorphite is green and mimetite is yellow. Vanadinite is usually red. Fortunately for identification purposes, Mimetite does not form well shaped crystals often and especially of the green color. It usually is found as a botryoidal crust, a sparkling cauliflower aggregation or as minute spike-like crystals.
Color is typically yellow, orange or brown, less commonly green, colorless or gray.
Luster is resinous to adamantine. Crystals are transparent to translucent. Cleavage is rarely noticed. Fracture is subconchoidal. Hardness is 3.5 - 4.