Curetonite is an extremely rare barium aluminum phosphate mineral that typically occurs as small, clear to light green tabular crystals. It was first described from the Cureton Mine in Arkansas and is primarily sought after by advanced micromount collectors due to its scarcity.
Is this curetonite?
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 curetonite with a known reference. Curetonite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Curetonite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Curetonite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, subhedral grains.
Often confused with
Curetonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside curetonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with curetonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba(Al,Fe)(PO₄)(OH,F,Cl)
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.37 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Subhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Phosphate-rich Environments
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find curetonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cureton Mine, Arkansas, USA
- Gold Hill Mine, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in phosphate-rich environments country — that is the host setting where curetonite typically forms. If you start seeing wardite, variscite, crandallite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, subhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find curetonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
