Nevadaite is a rare phosphate mineral typically found as vibrant green to blue-green radial sprays of acicular crystals. It was first discovered at the Gold Quarry mine in Nevada and is highly prized by collectors for its unique habit and striking color.
Is this nevadaite?
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 nevadaite with a known reference. Nevadaite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale powder-blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale green, turquoise.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, crystalline, radial.
Often confused with
Nevadaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Turquoise is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 3); streak differs, so Nevadaite leaves pale powder-blue, Turquoise leaves white to pale greenish blue.
How to tell apart: Variscite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3); streak differs, so Nevadaite leaves pale powder-blue, Variscite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nevadaite leaves pale powder-blue, Wavellite leaves white.
Often found alongside nevadaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nevadaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Cu,□,Al,V)₆[Al₈(PO₄)₈F₈](OH)₂(H₂O)₂₀·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.54 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale powder-blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, crystalline, radial
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A weathering-derived mineral above a low grade, disseminated gold deposit in hydrothermally altered sedimentary rocks
Where rockhounds find nevadaite
Classic worldwide localities
- 5425-5375 (elevation) benches, Gold Quarry open-pit mine near Carlin, Eureka County, Nevada (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A weathering-derived mineral above a low grade, disseminated gold deposit in hydrothermally altered sedimentary rocks. If you start seeing fluellite, hewettite, more rarely anatase in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, crystalline, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nevadaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
