Linarite is a striking deep-blue secondary mineral found in the oxidation zones of lead-copper deposits. It is best identified by its intense azure color and characteristic tabular or prismatic crystal habits often found associated with anglesite or cerussite.
Is this linarite?
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 linarite with a known reference. Linarite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: deep blue, azure blue, sky blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: encrustations, platy, prismatic.
Often confused with
Linarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside linarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with linarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCuSO₄(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 5.35 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous to subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations, platy, prismatic
- Cleavage
- On {100}, perfect; on {001}, interrupted
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An uncommon secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of Pb–Cu deposits
Where rockhounds find linarite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, Tiger, Pinal Co., and in the Grand Reef mine, Santa Teresa Mountains, Graham Co., Arizona, USA
- Blanchard and Mex-Tex mines, near Bingham, Hansonburg district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
- Tintic district, Juab Co., Utah, USA
- Cerro Gordo, Inyo Co., and on the Blue Bell claims, near Baker, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
- Linares, Jaén Province, Spain
- Arenas and San Giovanni, Sardinia, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An uncommon secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of Pb–Cu deposits. If you start seeing brochantite, anglesite, caledonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations, platy, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Mexico. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify linarite?+
Where is linarite found?+
Can I find linarite in the United States?+
Is linarite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like linarite?+
What minerals are found with linarite?+
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Find linarite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
