Chanabayaite is a rare copper nitrate hydroxide mineral discovered in the arid nitrate fields of the Atacama Desert. It typically presents as vivid blue to greenish-blue platy crystals or thin crusts associated with other nitrate minerals in highly saline, hyper-arid environments.
Is this chanabayaite?
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 chanabayaite with a known reference. Chanabayaite 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. Chanabayaite leaves a pale blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chanabayaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular crusts.
Often confused with
Chanabayaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Atacamite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Chanabayaite leaves pale blue, Atacamite leaves apple green; luster reads vitreous on Chanabayaite and adamantine to vitreous on Atacamite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Chanabayaite leaves pale blue, Gerhardtite leaves light green.
How to tell apart: Libethenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4 vs. 2); streak differs, so Chanabayaite leaves pale blue, Libethenite leaves pale green.
Often found alongside chanabayaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chanabayaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₂(NO₃)(OH)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Granular Crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Nitrate Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 for small micro-mounts
Where rockhounds find chanabayaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Chanabaya, Chile
- Iquique, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary nitrate deposits country, the host setting where chanabayaite typically forms. If you start seeing nitratine, darapskite, halite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, granular crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find chanabayaite on the map
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