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. Hydrowoodwardite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hydrowoodwardite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, pale blue, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Hydrowoodwardite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hydrowoodwardite leaves white, Cyanotrichite leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Hydrowoodwardite and silky on Cyanotrichite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hydrowoodwardite leaves white, Langite leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Hydrowoodwardite and vitreous on Langite.
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
- 2.0-2.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen depending on matrix quality
Where rockhounds find hydrowoodwardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lavrion, Greece
- Brixlegg, Austria
- Cap Garonne, France
- Rudabánya, Hungary
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal copper deposits country — that is the host setting where hydrowoodwardite typically forms. If you start seeing brochantite, posnjakite, chrysocolla in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hydrowoodwardite on the map
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