Celadonite is a soft, micaceous mineral typically found filling cavities in volcanic rocks like basalt. It is most famous for its historical use as a natural pigment known as 'terre verte' or green earth, prized by painters for its subtle, earth-toned hues.
Is this celadonite?
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 celadonite with a known reference. Celadonite 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. Celadonite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Celadonite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, blue-green, grayish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: earthy, micaceous, or as coatings and fillings in vesicles.
Often confused with
Celadonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside celadonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with celadonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K(Mg,Fe²⁺)(Fe³⁺,Al)Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.6-3.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Earthy, Micaceous, Or as Coatings and Fillings in Vesicles
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Pigment
- Host rock
- Basaltic Vesicles and Cavities
- Typical price
- $10-40 per specimen
Where rockhounds find celadonite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Verona, Italy
- Faroe Islands
- Iceland
- Oregon, USA
- Scotland
Field-hunting tip
Look in basaltic vesicles and cavities country, the host setting where celadonite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, zeolites, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a earthy, micaceous, or as coatings and fillings in vesicles habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Jersey. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify celadonite?+
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How much is celadonite worth?+
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Find celadonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
