Faustite is the zinc-dominant analogue of turquoise, typically appearing in vibrant apple-green to yellow-green shades. Collectors usually find it as massive, earthy, or nodular crusts formed in the oxidation zones of mineral deposits. It is a prized rarity among collectors for its distinctive color compared to typical sky-blue turquoise.
Is this faustite?
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 faustite with a known reference. Faustite sits at Mohs 5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Faustite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Faustite typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: apple-green, yellow-green, light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive, crusts, or nodular aggregates.
Often confused with
Faustite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside faustite
Minerals reported to co-occur with faustite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Zn,Cu)Al₆(PO₄)₄(OH)₈·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 2.7-2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Crusts, Or Nodular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Weathered Phosphate-rich Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for specimens depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find faustite
Classic worldwide localities
- Copper King Mine, Nevada, USA
- Eureka County, Nevada, USA
- Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in weathered phosphate-rich hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where faustite typically forms. If you start seeing turquoise, kaolinite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, crusts, or nodular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify faustite?+
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Find faustite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
