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, so 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, so Claraite leaves light blue, Malachite leaves light green; luster reads dull on Claraite and vitreous on Malachite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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.
