Prase is a leek-green variety of quartz colored by inclusions of actinolite or hedenbergite. It is often distinguished from chrysoprase by its darker, olive-green hue and typically occurs in granular or massive crystalline aggregates.
Is this prase?
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 prase with a known reference. Prase sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Prase leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Prase typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: leek-green, olive-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, crystalline clusters, prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Prase vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside prase
Minerals reported to co-occur with prase. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SiO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 2.65 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Crystalline Clusters, Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary, Ornamental
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Contact Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find prase
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Greece
- Finland
- Brazil
- USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where prase typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, crystalline clusters, prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Oregon. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find prase on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
