Hydrowoodwardite is a rare copper aluminum sulfate mineral typically found as a secondary product in oxidized copper deposits. Collectors usually look for its distinctive pale blue to blue-green platy crusts or radial crystal sprays often coating other copper minerals.
Is this hydrowoodwardite?
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 hydrowoodwardite with a known reference. Hydrowoodwardite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, pale blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: botryoidal, encrustations.
Often confused with
Hydrowoodwardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hydrowoodwardite leaves pale blue, Woodwardite leaves light blue; luster reads vitreous on Hydrowoodwardite and pearly on Woodwardite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Hydrowoodwardite and silky on Cyanotrichite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hydrowoodwardite leaves pale blue, Langite leaves greenish blue.
Often found alongside hydrowoodwardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hydrowoodwardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- [Cu₁₋ₓAlₓ(OH)₂][(SO₄)ₓ/₂·nH₂O]
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.33 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, encrustations
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Rare in the oxidized portions of base metal sulfide mines
Where rockhounds find hydrowoodwardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Saxony, from the St. Briccius mine, Königswalde, near Annaberg, Germany
- Gelbe Birke mine, Schwarzenberg, Germany
- St. Johannes mine, Wolkenstein, near Marienberg, Germany
- St. Christoph mine, Bärenhecke, Germany
- Simdde Dyllhan, Drws-y-Coed, near Nantlle, Gwynedd, Wales
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Rare in the oxidized portions of base metal sulfide mines. If you start seeing woodwardite, schulenbergite, namuwite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: botryoidal, encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hydrowoodwardite?+
Where is hydrowoodwardite found?+
Is hydrowoodwardite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like hydrowoodwardite?+
What minerals are found with hydrowoodwardite?+
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Find hydrowoodwardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
