Niedermayrite is a rare secondary copper-cadmium sulfate mineral typically found as small, bluish green, tabular crystals in oxidized base-metal deposits. It is most famous for its occurrences in the historic mining district of Lavrion, Greece, where it forms in association with other rare secondary minerals.
Is this niedermayrite?
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 niedermayrite with a known reference. Niedermayrite sits at Mohs 2, 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: bluish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: encrustations, euhedral crystals.
Often confused with
Niedermayrite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Serpierite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); streak differs, so Niedermayrite leaves white, Serpierite leaves greenish white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Niedermayrite leaves white, Devilline leaves pale green.
Often found alongside niedermayrite
Minerals reported to co-occur with niedermayrite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄Cd(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations, euhedral crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Very rare in the oxidation zone of a zinc-rich hydrothermal orebody in brecciated marble, formed as an alteration product of chalcopyrite and greenockite
Where rockhounds find niedermayrite
Classic worldwide localities
- Laurium, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Very rare in the oxidation zone of a zinc-rich hydrothermal orebody in brecciated marble, formed as an alteration product of chalcopyrite and greenockite. If you start seeing gypsum, malachite, chalcanthite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations, euhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify niedermayrite?+
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Is niedermayrite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like niedermayrite?+
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Find niedermayrite on the map
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