Bluelizardite is a rare copper sulfate mineral characterized by its delicate blue, prismatic crystals. It is primarily found as crusts or small crystal sprays within sedimentary rocks and was named after its type locality at the Blue Lizard Mine.
Is this bluelizardite?
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 bluelizardite with a known reference. Bluelizardite 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: yellowish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Bluelizardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bluelizardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bluelizardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₇(UO₂)(SO₄)₄Cl(H₂O)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.116 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals, crusts
- Cleavage
- Good on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An oxidation product as efflorescence on tunnel walls in sulfide-bearing sandstone in an abandoned underground Colorado Plateau-type uranium mine
Where rockhounds find bluelizardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Blue Lizard U mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon district, San Juan County, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An oxidation product as efflorescence on tunnel walls in sulfide-bearing sandstone in an abandoned underground Colorado Plateau-type uranium mine. If you start seeing chalcanthite, copiapite, ferrinatrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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What rocks look like bluelizardite?+
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Find bluelizardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
