Cabalzarite is a rare arsenate mineral belonging to the Tsumcorite group, typically occurring as small, vibrant yellow to orange-yellow platy crystals. It is primarily found in complex hydrothermal deposits where arsenic-bearing minerals undergo oxidation. Collectors look for its distinctive flattened crystal habit often associated with dolomite or calcite in rare mineral localities.
Is this cabalzarite?
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 cabalzarite with a known reference. Cabalzarite sits at Mohs ~5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: colorless.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light brown, brownish pink, orange brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: aggregates, granular.
Often confused with
Cabalzarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Cabalzarite leaves colorless, Tsumcorite leaves yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Cabalzarite leaves colorless, Gartrellite leaves bright yellow; luster reads vitreous on Cabalzarite and chalky on Gartrellite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Cabalzarite leaves colorless, Helmutwinklerite leaves white.
Often found alongside cabalzarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cabalzarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaMg₂(AsO₄)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~5
- Density
- 3.89 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Colorless
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed by hydrothermal remobilization of arsenic during retrograde metamorphism, under lowest to sub-greenschist facies conditions, of syn-sedimentary exhalative Mn deposits embedded in radiolarites
Where rockhounds find cabalzarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Falotta mine, Graubünden, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed by hydrothermal remobilization of arsenic during retrograde metamorphism, under lowest to sub-greenschist facies conditions, of syn-sedimentary exhalative Mn deposits embedded in radiolarites. If you start seeing quartz, adularia, kutnohorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find cabalzarite on the map
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