Ophirite is a rare calcium magnesium zinc oxide, typically orange-brown. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2013. It was first described from Ophir Hill Consolidated mine, Ophir district, Oquirrh Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, USA.
Is this ophirite?
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 ophirite with a known reference. Ophirite 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: pale orange.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Ophirite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Conichalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Ophirite leaves pale orange, Conichalcite leaves green.
How to tell apart: Austinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Ophirite leaves pale orange, Austinite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Ophirite and subadamantine to silky in aggregates on Austinite.
Often found alongside ophirite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ophirite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Mg₄[Zn₂Mn³⁺₂(H₂O)₂(Fe³⁺W₉O₃₄)₂]·46H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 4.060 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Fluorescence
- Bright yellow under UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Produced by late acidic and oxidizing hydrothermal solutions reacting with dolomite and scheelite, in the presence of pyrite and calcium-rich hornfels
Where rockhounds find ophirite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ophir Hill Consolidated mine, Ophir district, Oquirrh Mountains, Tooele County, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Produced by late acidic and oxidizing hydrothermal solutions reacting with dolomite and scheelite, in the presence of pyrite and calcium-rich hornfels. If you start seeing scheelite, pyrite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ophirite?+
Where is ophirite found?+
What rocks look like ophirite?+
What minerals are found with ophirite?+
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What is ophirite used for?+
Find ophirite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
