Fedotovite is a rare copper sulfate mineral formed by volcanic fumarolic activity. It is characterized by its distinct green to bluish-green tabular crystals and is found primarily in the vents of the Tolbachik volcano.
Is this fedotovite?
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 fedotovite with a known reference. Fedotovite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale grass-green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue green, emerald green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: encrustations.
Often confused with
Fedotovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Fedotovite leaves pale grass-green, Euchlorine leaves pistachio green.
How to tell apart: Kamchatkite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Fedotovite leaves pale grass-green, Kamchatkite leaves yellow.
Often found alongside fedotovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fedotovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂Cu₃O(SO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.205 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale grass-green
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations
- Cleavage
- On {100}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As sublimates around volcanic fumaroles
Where rockhounds find fedotovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tolbachik fissure volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As sublimates around volcanic fumaroles. If you start seeing dolerophanite, chalcocyanite, tolbachite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify fedotovite?+
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Is fedotovite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like fedotovite?+
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Find fedotovite on the map
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