Duftite is a secondary mineral typically found as vibrant green botryoidal crusts in the oxidation zones of ore deposits. It is highly prized by collectors for its brilliant color, especially when associated with contrasting white mimetite crystals from the famous Tsumeb mine.
Is this duftite?
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 duftite with a known reference. Duftite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale green to white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull to vitreous on fractures.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright olive-green, gray-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, earthy.
Often confused with
Duftite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Duftite leaves pale green to white, Mimetite leaves white; luster reads dull to vitreous on fractures on Duftite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
How to tell apart: Duftite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3); streak differs, so Duftite leaves pale green to white, Olivenite leaves olive-green to brown; luster reads dull to vitreous on fractures on Duftite and adamantine to vitreous, pearly to silky if fibrous on Olivenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Duftite leaves pale green to white, Conichalcite leaves green; luster reads dull to vitreous on fractures on Duftite and vitreous to somewhat greasy on Conichalcite.
Often found alongside duftite
Minerals reported to co-occur with duftite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCu(AsO₄)(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 6.40 g/cm³
- Colors
- Bright olive-greenGray-green
- Streak
- Pale green to white
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous on fractures
- Transparency
- Subtranslucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, crusts, earthy
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An uncommon mineral in the oxidized zone of some hydrothermal base-metal deposits
Where rockhounds find duftite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mohawk mine, Clark Mountains, San Bernardino Co., and at the Belmont mine, Cerro Gordo, Inyo Co., California, USA
- Black Pine mine, Philipsburg, Granite Co., Montana, USA
- Granite Gap, Hidalgo Co., New Mexico, USA
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Fitula and Mufulira, Zambia
- Touissit mine, near Oujda, Morocco
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An uncommon mineral in the oxidized zone of some hydrothermal base-metal deposits. If you start seeing olivenite, mottramite, azurite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, earthy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify duftite?+
Where is duftite found?+
Is duftite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like duftite?+
What minerals are found with duftite?+
What kind of rock does duftite form in?+
What is duftite used for?+
Find duftite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
