Jurbanite is a rare aluminum sulfate mineral typically found as a secondary precipitate in volcanic fumarole environments. Collectors usually identify it by its delicate, prismatic, or acicular crystal habit and its occurrence in arid, sulfate-rich volcanic areas.
Is this jurbanite?
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 jurbanite with a known reference. Jurbanite 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. Jurbanite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jurbanite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Jurbanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside jurbanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jurbanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al(SO₄)(OH)·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.05 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Radial Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Fumarolic Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find jurbanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Aguas Calientes, Chile
- United States
Field-hunting tip
Look in fumarolic deposits country, the host setting where jurbanite typically forms. If you start seeing alunogen, halotrichite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find jurbanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
