Kamarizaite is a rare secondary arsenate mineral known primarily from the historic mining district of Lavrion, Greece. It typically forms delicate, yellow to yellowish-green platy crystals or rosettes in the oxidized zones of lead-zinc deposits.
Is this kamarizaite?
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 kamarizaite with a known reference. Kamarizaite sits at Mohs ~3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: porcelain-like.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, biege.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, rosettes.
Often confused with
Kamarizaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kamarizaite leaves light yellow, Pharmacosiderite leaves yellowish green; luster reads porcelain-like on Kamarizaite and adamantine to greasy on Pharmacosiderite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kamarizaite leaves light yellow, Scorodite leaves greenish white; luster reads porcelain-like on Kamarizaite and vitreous to subadamantine, subresinous on Scorodite.
Often found alongside kamarizaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kamarizaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺₃(AsO₄)₂(OH)₃·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 3.16 g/cm³
- Colors
- BrownBiege
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Porcelain-like
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, rosettes
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- From supergene alteration of primary Pb-Zn ore
Where rockhounds find kamarizaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dump of the Kamariza mine, Lavrion mining district, Attica Region, Greece (type locality)
- Le Mazet vein, Échassières, Auvergne, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: From supergene alteration of primary Pb-Zn ore. If you start seeing goethite, scorodite, jarosite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, rosettes. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kamarizaite on the map
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