Lazarenkoite is a very rare arsenic-bearing mineral often found as small, yellow, platy or micaceous crystals. It is primarily identified in hydrothermal deposits associated with primary arsenic minerals like arsenopyrite. Due to its extreme rarity and arsenic content, it is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors specializing in rare species.
Is this lazarenkoite?
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 lazarenkoite with a known reference. Lazarenkoite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lazarenkoite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lazarenkoite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, greenish-yellow, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Lazarenkoite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Lazarenkoite leaves yellow, Pharmacosiderite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Lazarenkoite and adamantine on Pharmacosiderite.
How to tell apart: Scorodite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Lazarenkoite leaves yellow, Scorodite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Lazarenkoite and vitreous to sub-adamantine on Scorodite.
Often found alongside lazarenkoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lazarenkoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaFe³⁺₅(As³⁺O₃)₄(OH)₄·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Arsenic-bearing Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find lazarenkoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Krasnogorskoye deposit, Uzbekistan
- Dalnegorsk, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal arsenic-bearing deposits country — that is the host setting where lazarenkoite typically forms. If you start seeing arsenopyrite, pyrite, quartz 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 lazarenkoite on the map
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