Moorhouseite is a rare hydrated cobalt sulfate mineral typically found as efflorescent crusts or coatings in oxidized sulfide mines. It is characterized by its distinctive pink color and its association with other cobalt-bearing minerals like erythrite. Because it is highly soluble in water, it must be stored in a dry, sealed environment to prevent dehydration or dissolution.
Is this moorhouseite?
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 moorhouseite with a known reference. Moorhouseite 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: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, efflorescent coatings, fibrous aggregates.
Often confused with
Moorhouseite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside moorhouseite
Minerals reported to co-occur with moorhouseite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CoSO₄·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 1.97-2.02 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, efflorescent coatings, fibrous aggregates
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As efflorescences with sulfides (probably cobaltian and nickelian pyrite) on siderite–barite matrix from a hydrothermal Pb–Zn–Cu orebody associated with a large barite deposit (Magnet Cove mine, Canada)
Where rockhounds find moorhouseite
Classic worldwide localities
- A prospect 13 km east-southeast of Gray Mountain, Cameron district, Coconino Co., Arizona, USA
- Magnet Cove barite mine, four km southwest of Walton, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Geschieber and Evangelista veins, Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Czech Republic
- Fontana Rosa, Corsica, France
- Dump of the Schmiedestollen, near Wittichen, in the Rötenback quarry, near Alpirsbach, Black Forest, Germany
- Daniel mine, Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As efflorescences with sulfides (probably cobaltian and nickelian pyrite) on siderite–barite matrix from a hydrothermal Pb–Zn–Cu orebody associated with a large barite deposit (Magnet Cove mine, Canada). If you start seeing aplowite, siderite, barite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crusts, efflorescent coatings, fibrous aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify moorhouseite?+
Where is moorhouseite found?+
Is moorhouseite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like moorhouseite?+
What minerals are found with moorhouseite?+
What kind of rock does moorhouseite form in?+
What is moorhouseite used for?+
Find moorhouseite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
