Gartrellite is a rare secondary mineral found in the oxidation zones of arsenic-rich mineral deposits. Collectors typically search for its characteristic bright green, crust-like or micro-crystalline coatings on host rock surfaces.
Is this gartrellite?
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 gartrellite with a known reference. Gartrellite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gartrellite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gartrellite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, yellow-green, emerald green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: drusy aggregates of tiny plates or prisms.
Often confused with
Gartrellite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Gartrellite leaves pale green, Tsumcorite leaves yellowish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Gartrellite leaves pale green, Duftite leaves light green.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Gartrellite leaves pale green, Conichalcite leaves light green.
Often found alongside gartrellite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gartrellite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCuFe³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH,H₂O)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Drusy Aggregates of Tiny Plates or Prisms
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Hydrothermal Base-metal Deposits
- Typical price
- $30-150 per micro to thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find gartrellite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gartrell farm, Western Australia
- Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
- Ojuela Mine, Mexico
- Black Pine Mine, Montana, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of hydrothermal base-metal deposits country — that is the host setting where gartrellite typically forms. If you start seeing arseniosiderite, beudantite, mimetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a drusy aggregates of tiny plates or prisms habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gartrellite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
