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 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright yellowish green, nickel green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, twinning common.
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,Ti)(PO₄)(OH,O)F
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.42 g/cm³
- Colors
- Bright yellowish greenNickel green
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals, twinning common
- Cleavage
- On {011}, good; a parting on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral, in veins cutting a replacement barite deposit
Where rockhounds find curetonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Redhouse Barite mine, near Golconda, Potosi district, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral, in veins cutting a replacement barite deposit. If you start seeing orthoclase, barite, variscite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, twinning common. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify curetonite?+
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What rocks look like curetonite?+
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Find curetonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
