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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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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