Ice is a naturally occurring crystalline solid of water that forms at temperatures below 0°C. It is typically found in glaciers and polar regions, often occurring as massive polycrystalline aggregates rather than distinct single crystals.

Hardness

1.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralcommon

Ice

Also: water ice, frozen water

Hardness: 1.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this ice?

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 ice with a known reference. Ice sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Ice leaves a white streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Ice typically shows a vitreous luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white, blue.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.

Often confused with

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

mineral

Quartz

Mohs 7

How to tell apart: Quartz is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 1.5).

How to tell apart: Calcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 1.5).

Compare →

All properties

Chemical formula: H₂O
Mohs hardness: 1.5
Density: 0.92 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White Blue
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Crystal habit: Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
Cleavage: Imperfect
Rarity: Common
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Polar Ice Sheets, Glaciers, Permafrost

Where rockhounds find ice

Classic worldwide localities

Antarctica
Greenland
Iceland
Canada
Norway

Field-hunting tip

Look in polar ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost country, the host setting where ice typically forms. If you start seeing air, impurities, sediment in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify ice?+

Mohs hardness is 1.5. It typically shows a vitreous luster. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white, blue.

Where is ice found?+

Notable localities include Antarctica; Greenland; Iceland; Canada; Norway.

What rocks look like ice?+

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

What minerals are found with ice?+

Ice commonly co-occurs with air, impurities, sediment. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does ice form in?+

Ice typically forms in polar ice sheets, glaciers, permafrost. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is ice used for?+

Ice is used in collector.

Find ice on the map

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