Prosperite is a very rare secondary arsenate mineral that typically forms thin, transparent to translucent platy crystals. It is most famously associated with the Tsumeb Mine in Namibia, occurring in oxidized lead-zinc ore zones alongside other rare species.
Is this prosperite?
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 prosperite with a known reference. Prosperite sits at Mohs 4.5, 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 to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, radial, wheat sheaf.
Often confused with
Prosperite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside prosperite
Minerals reported to co-occur with prosperite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Zn₄(AsO₄)₄(H₂O)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.31 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, radial, wheat sheaf
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in partly altered sulfide ore from a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit
Where rockhounds find prosperite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in partly altered sulfide ore from a dolostone-hosted hydrothermal polymetallic ore deposit. If you start seeing tennantite, chalcocite, mercurian silver in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, radial, wheat sheaf. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify prosperite?+
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Find prosperite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
