Coparsite is a rare copper-chloride mineral discovered in the volcanic fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano in Russia. It typically forms small, dark green tabular crystals within salt-rich volcanic crusts and is highly prized by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this coparsite?
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 coparsite with a known reference. Coparsite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Coparsite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Coparsite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, greenish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Coparsite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Coparsite leaves pale green, Atacamite leaves apple green; luster reads vitreous on Coparsite and adamantine to vitreous on Atacamite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Coparsite leaves pale green, Paratacamite leaves apple green; luster reads vitreous on Coparsite and adamantine on Paratacamite.
Often found alongside coparsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with coparsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄OCl₆(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.94 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Fumarole Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find coparsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in fumarole deposits country — that is the host setting where coparsite typically forms. If you start seeing sylvite, halite, tenorite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find coparsite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
