Campigliaite is a very rare copper-manganese sulfate mineral found primarily in the Temperino mine in Italy. It typically forms delicate, light blue acicular crystal sprays or coatings associated with secondary oxidation zone minerals.
Is this campigliaite?
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 campigliaite with a known reference. Campigliaite 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: blue white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light blue, pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous crystals.
Often confused with
Campigliaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Campigliaite leaves blue white, Chalcanthite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Brochantite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); streak differs, so Campigliaite leaves blue white, Brochantite leaves pale green.
Often found alongside campigliaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with campigliaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄Mn(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Blue white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or fibrous crystals
- Cleavage
- On {100}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a metallic sulfide skarn deposit
Where rockhounds find campigliaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Temperino mine, Campiglia Marittima, Tuscany, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a metallic sulfide skarn deposit. If you start seeing gypsum, brochantite, antlerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify campigliaite?+
Where is campigliaite found?+
Is campigliaite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like campigliaite?+
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Find campigliaite on the map
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