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, so 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, so 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, 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.
