Minohlite is a rare copper-zinc sulfate mineral that typically appears as bright blue to blue-green platy crusts or delicate aggregates. It forms in the oxidized zones of ore deposits, often associated with other secondary copper and zinc minerals. Collectors value it for its vibrant color and rarity, often found in small micro-specimens from its type locality in Japan.
Is this minohlite?
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 minohlite with a known reference. Minohlite 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. Minohlite leaves a pale blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Minohlite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, aggregates.
Often confused with
Minohlite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Minohlite leaves pale blue, Chalcophyllite leaves pale green; luster reads pearly on Minohlite and vitreous on Chalcophyllite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Minohlite leaves pale blue, Serpierite leaves white.
Often found alongside minohlite
Minerals reported to co-occur with minohlite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄Zn(SO₄)(OH)₆·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.5-2.6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Blue
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Copper-zinc Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-200 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find minohlite
Classic worldwide localities
- Minoh mine, Japan
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of copper-zinc deposits country — that is the host setting where minohlite typically forms. If you start seeing smithsonite, aurichalcite, brochantite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find minohlite on the map
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