Mojaveite is a copper tellurium hydroxide that forms sky-blue to medium greenish blue curved flattened plates. Associated minerals include cerussite, chrysocolla and khinite. It was first described from the E pit, Blue Bell claims, Soda Mountains, 11 km west of Baker, California, USA.
Is this mojaveite?
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 mojaveite with a known reference. Mojaveite sits at Mohs ~1, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale greenish blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine, pearly or dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: sky-blue, medium greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: curved flattened plates.
Often confused with
Mojaveite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Jasper is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. ~1); streak differs, so Mojaveite leaves pale greenish blue, Jasper leaves white; luster reads adamantine, pearly or dull on Mojaveite and waxy on Jasper.
How to tell apart: Agate is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. ~1); streak differs, so Mojaveite leaves pale greenish blue, Agate leaves white; luster reads adamantine, pearly or dull on Mojaveite and waxy on Agate.
Often found alongside mojaveite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mojaveite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₆[Te⁶⁺O₄(OH)₂](OH)₇Cl
- Mohs hardness
- ~1
- Density
- 4.886 g/cm³
- Colors
- Sky-blueMedium greenish blue
- Streak
- Pale greenish blue
- Luster
- Adamantine, pearly or dull
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Curved flattened plates
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary copper mineral formed by decomposition of hessite and chalcopyrite under mildly acidic conditions
Where rockhounds find mojaveite
Classic worldwide localities
- E pit, Blue Bell claims, Soda Mountains, 11 km west of Baker, and the Aga mine and Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, San Bernardino County, central Mojave Desert, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary copper mineral formed by decomposition of hessite and chalcopyrite under mildly acidic conditions. If you start seeing cerussite, chrysocolla, khinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: curved flattened plates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find mojaveite on the map
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