Juanitaite is a very rare secondary mineral typically found as small, vibrant green square tablets or crusts in oxidized tellurium-bearing deposits. It is best identified under magnification by its characteristic tetragonal plate habit, primarily known from its type locality in Utah. Due to its extreme rarity and complex chemistry, it is a highly sought-after species for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this juanitaite?
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 juanitaite with a known reference. Juanitaite 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. Juanitaite leaves a light green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Juanitaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, bluish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: small square plates, crusts, or globular aggregates.
Often confused with
Juanitaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Mackayite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Juanitaite leaves light green, Mackayite leaves yellowish; luster reads vitreous on Juanitaite and sub-adamantine on Mackayite.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 2); streak differs — Juanitaite leaves light green, Emmonsite leaves pale yellow.
Often found alongside juanitaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with juanitaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCu₁₀(TeO₃)₄(AsO₄)(OH)₁₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.84 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Small Square Plates, Crusts, Or Globular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Gold-telluride Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 for micro-specimens
Where rockhounds find juanitaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Centennial Eureka Mine, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal gold-telluride deposits country — that is the host setting where juanitaite typically forms. If you start seeing emmonsite, jarosite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a small square plates, crusts, or globular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find juanitaite on the map
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