Görgeyite is a rare sulfate mineral typically found as a secondary phase in complex evaporite deposits. Collectors should look for delicate, radiating sprays of acicular crystals or small prismatic blades often associated with massive polyhalite and anhydrite.
Is this görgeyite?
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 görgeyite with a known reference. Görgeyite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, yellowish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals, often in radiating clusters or massive aggregates.
Often confused with
Görgeyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Görgeyite and pearly on {010}, vitreous to greasy on {001}; vitreous on {100} on Anhydrite.
How to tell apart: Görgeyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1.5-2); luster reads vitreous on Görgeyite and subvitreous, pearly on {010} cleavages, silky if fibrous on Gypsum.
Often found alongside görgeyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with görgeyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂Ca₅(SO₄)₆·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 2.90-2.93 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to acicular crystals, often in radiating clusters or massive aggregates
- Cleavage
- On {100}, imperfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Typically an uncommon secondary mineral in evaporite deposits; in hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find görgeyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ischl salt deposit, near Salzburg, Austria
- Drill core at the edge of the Baccano caldera, Cesano geothermal field, east of Lake Bracciano, Lazio, Italy
- Astakós, Greece
- Praid, Romania
- Der Lake, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Typically an uncommon secondary mineral in evaporite deposits; in hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing glauberite, halite, polyhalite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals, often in radiating clusters or massive aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify görgeyite?+
Where is görgeyite found?+
What rocks look like görgeyite?+
What minerals are found with görgeyite?+
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Find görgeyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
