Fuchsite is a chromium-rich variety of muscovite mica distinguished by its striking, sparkling emerald-green color. Collectors typically find it as masses of micaceous, scaly aggregates often found in metamorphic schist environments.
Is this fuschite?
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 fuschite with a known reference. Fuschite 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. Fuschite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Fuschite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: emerald green, bright green, apple green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: scaly aggregates, massive.
Often confused with
Fuschite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside fuschite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fuschite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K(Al,Cr)₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Scaly Aggregates, Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Rocks, Schist
- Typical price
- $5-30 for small specimens, $50+ for large decorative carvings
Where rockhounds find fuschite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Brazil
- Zimbabwe
- Austria
- Russia
- India
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic rocks, schist country, the host setting where fuschite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, kyanite, talc in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a scaly aggregates, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Vermont. Start trip planning there.
More fuschite photos
Common questions
How do you identify fuschite?+
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Find fuschite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
