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 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nevadaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nevadaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, blue-green, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: radial sprays, acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates.
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. 2-3); luster reads vitreous on Nevadaite and waxy on Turquoise.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Nevadaite and waxy on Variscite.
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,Zn)₆(PO₄)₂(OH)₈·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Radial Sprays, Acicular Crystals, Fibrous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Mineralized Zones in Sedimentary Rock
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find nevadaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gold Quarry mine, Nevada, USA
- Eureka County, Nevada, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal mineralized zones in sedimentary rock country — that is the host setting where nevadaite typically forms. If you start seeing variscite, wavellite, wardite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a radial sprays, acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nevadaite on the map
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