Claraite is an extremely rare secondary copper-zinc mineral that typically forms as soft, sky-blue powdery crusts or coatings on baryte and other vein minerals. It is best identified by its vibrant color and its specific occurrence as a late-stage deposit in oxidized hydrothermal ore deposits.
Is this claraite?
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 claraite with a known reference. Claraite 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. Claraite leaves a light blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Claraite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, light blue, greenish-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: microcrystalline aggregates, botryoidal crusts, earthy coatings.
Often confused with
Claraite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Claraite leaves light blue, Aurichalcite leaves pale blue; luster reads dull on Claraite and pearly on Aurichalcite.
How to tell apart: Malachite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); streak differs — Claraite leaves light blue, Malachite leaves light green; luster reads dull on Claraite and vitreous on Malachite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Claraite leaves light blue, Chrysocolla leaves white; luster reads dull on Claraite and vitreous on Chrysocolla.
Often found alongside claraite
Minerals reported to co-occur with claraite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Cu,Zn)₃(CO₃,SO₄)(OH)₄·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.32 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light Blue
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Microcrystalline Aggregates, Botryoidal Crusts, Earthy Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mineralized Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find claraite
Classic worldwide localities
- Clara Mine, Germany
- Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mineralized veins country — that is the host setting where claraite typically forms. If you start seeing baryte, fluorite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microcrystalline aggregates, botryoidal crusts, earthy coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find claraite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
