Huangite is a rare calcium-bearing sulfate mineral primarily found in fumarolic environments. Collectors should look for its distinctive yellow, thin platy crystal aggregates often associated with other sulfate minerals.

Hardness

3.5

Mohs

Luster

Pearly

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrareAlunite Supergroup family

Huangite

Hardness: 3.5
Luster: Pearly
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

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Is this huangite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch huangite with a known reference. Huangite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Huangite leaves a white streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Huangite typically shows a pearly luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-brown.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals.

Often confused with

Huangite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Alunite

Mohs 3.5-4

How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly on Huangite and vitreous on Alunite.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Huangite leaves white, Jarosite leaves yellow; luster reads pearly on Huangite and vitreous on Jarosite.

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Often found alongside huangite

Minerals reported to co-occur with huangite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₀.₅Al₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₆
Mohs hardness: 3.5
Density: 3.31 g/cm³
Colors: Yellow Yellowish-brown
Streak: White
Luster: Pearly
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Platy Crystals
Cleavage: Perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Fumarolic Deposits
Typical price: $50-300 per specimen

Where rockhounds find huangite

Classic worldwide localities

China
Italy
USA

Field-hunting tip

Look in fumarolic deposits country, the host setting where huangite typically forms. If you start seeing gypsum, alunite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify huangite?+

Mohs hardness is 3.5. It typically shows a pearly luster. The streak is white. Common colors include yellow, yellowish-brown.

Where is huangite found?+

Notable localities include China; Italy; USA.

How much is huangite worth?+

Typical asking prices fall in the range of $50-300 per specimen. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.

What rocks look like huangite?+

Huangite is most often confused with Alunite, Jarosite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with huangite?+

Huangite commonly co-occurs with Gypsum, Alunite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does huangite form in?+

Huangite typically forms in fumarolic deposits. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is huangite used for?+

Huangite is used in collector.

Find huangite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.