Aravaipaite is an extremely rare lead aluminum fluoride hydroxide mineral discovered in Arizona. It typically forms thin, colorless tabular crystals within cavities of oxidized ore deposits. Collectors prioritize specimens from its type locality at the Grand Reef mine, where it is found in association with other secondary lead minerals.
Is this aravaipaite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch aravaipaite with a known reference. Aravaipaite sits at Mohs ~2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy.
Often confused with
Aravaipaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Wulfenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.75-3 vs. ~2); luster reads vitreous to pearly on Aravaipaite and resinous, subadamantine to adamantine on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Cerussite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. ~2); luster reads vitreous to pearly on Aravaipaite and adamantine, tending toward vitreous, resinous on Cerussite.
Often found alongside aravaipaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with aravaipaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₈AlF₃(OH,O)₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 6.37 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect micaceous {010}; {100}, {001}, {101}, {101}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidized zone of an epithermal Pb–Cu–Ag deposit hosted by a silicified rhyolite-schist breccia
Where rockhounds find aravaipaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Grand Reef mine, near Klondyke, Aravaipa district, Graham Co., Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidized zone of an epithermal Pb–Cu–Ag deposit hosted by a silicified rhyolite-schist breccia. If you start seeing grandreefite, pseudograndreefite, laurelite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify aravaipaite?+
Where is aravaipaite found?+
Is aravaipaite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like aravaipaite?+
What minerals are found with aravaipaite?+
What kind of rock does aravaipaite form in?+
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Find aravaipaite on the map
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