Goldichite is a rare secondary sulfate mineral typically found as an oxidation product of iron sulfide minerals. It often occurs as thin, white to pale yellow tabular crystals or powdery coatings in arid mining districts. Because it is water-soluble, it should be kept in a dry environment to prevent degradation.
Is this goldichite?
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 goldichite with a known reference. Goldichite 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. Goldichite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Goldichite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, granular crusts.
Often confused with
Goldichite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside goldichite
Minerals reported to co-occur with goldichite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KFe(SO₄)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.44 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Granular Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Sulfide Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen depending on quality
Where rockhounds find goldichite
Classic worldwide localities
- United Verde mine, Arizona, USA
- Cerro de Pasco, Peru
- Alcaparrosa mine, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of sulfide ore deposits country — that is the host setting where goldichite typically forms. If you start seeing copiapite, roemerite, szomolnokite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, granular crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify goldichite?+
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Find goldichite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
