Elyite is a rare secondary mineral typically found as delicate, violet-colored fibrous sprays or crusts in oxidized mine tailings. It is named for the Ely copper district in Nevada, where it was first discovered, and is highly sought after by collectors of micro-minerals.
Is this elyite?
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 elyite with a known reference. Elyite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Elyite leaves a light violet streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Elyite typically shows a silky luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: violet, deep purple.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous radial sprays.
Often confused with
Elyite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Elyite leaves light violet, Linarite leaves pale blue; luster reads silky on Elyite and vitreous on Linarite.
How to tell apart: Brochantite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); streak differs — Elyite leaves light violet, Brochantite leaves pale-green; luster reads silky on Elyite and vitreous on Brochantite.
Often found alongside elyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with elyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄Cu(SO₄)O₂(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.1-4.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Violet
- Luster
- Silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Fibrous Radial Sprays
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Copper-lead Ore Zones
- Typical price
- $50-300 per thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find elyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ruth Pit, Ely, Nevada, USA
- Tiger, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized copper-lead ore zones country — that is the host setting where elyite typically forms. If you start seeing linarite, brochantite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or fibrous radial sprays habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find elyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
