Ramazzoite is a rare magnesium copper phosphate, typically blue to greenish blue. It is a late-stage, secondary mineral hosted in serpentinite in contact with basalt dikes and pillow lavas. It was first described from Monte Ramazzo mine, near Genova, Liguria, Italy.
Is this ramazzoite?
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 ramazzoite with a known reference. Ramazzoite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to oily.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: platy crystals, pseudo-hexagonal.
Often confused with
Ramazzoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ramazzoite leaves pale blue, Hydrotalcite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to oily on Ramazzoite and satiny to greasy or waxy on Hydrotalcite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Ramazzoite leaves pale blue, Meixnerite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to oily on Ramazzoite and pearly on Meixnerite.
Often found alongside ramazzoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ramazzoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- [Mg₈Cu₁₂(PO₄)(CO₃)₄(OH)₂₄(H₂O)₂₀][(H₀.₃₃SO₄)₃(H₂O)₃₆]
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 1.98 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous to oily
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, pseudo-hexagonal
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late-stage, secondary mineral hosted in serpentinite in contact with basalt dikes and pillow lavas
Where rockhounds find ramazzoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Monte Ramazzo mine, near Genova, Liguria, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage, secondary mineral hosted in serpentinite in contact with basalt dikes and pillow lavas. If you start seeing magnetite, chlorartinite, chrysotile in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, pseudo-hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ramazzoite?+
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Find ramazzoite on the map
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