Mottramite is a distinct lead-copper vanadate that typically occurs as vibrant green botryoidal crusts or velvety coatings. It is a common secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of ore deposits, often found in association with its dimorph descloizite.
Is this mottramite?
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 mottramite with a known reference. Mottramite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Mottramite leaves a yellowish green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Mottramite typically shows a greasy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, olive green, blackish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Mottramite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Mottramite leaves yellowish green, Descloizite leaves orange to brownish-red; luster reads greasy on Mottramite and greasy to adamantine on Descloizite.
How to tell apart: Conichalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3-3.5); streak differs — Mottramite leaves yellowish green, Conichalcite leaves light green; luster reads greasy on Mottramite and vitreous on Conichalcite.
Often found alongside mottramite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mottramite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCu(VO₄)(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 5.9-6.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Green
- Luster
- Greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Lead-copper-vanadium Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find mottramite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mottram, England
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Mapimi, Mexico
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of lead-copper-vanadium deposits country — that is the host setting where mottramite typically forms. If you start seeing descloizite, wulfenite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a botryoidal, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find mottramite on the map
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