Ramsbeckite is a rare copper-zinc sulfate mineral typically found as small, bright green tabular crystals or crusts. It primarily forms in the oxidized zones of base metal deposits, often associated with other secondary copper minerals.
Is this ramsbeckite?
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 ramsbeckite with a known reference. Ramsbeckite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Ramsbeckite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside ramsbeckite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ramsbeckite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₁₅(SO₄)₄(OH)₂₂·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.39-3.41 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, crusts
- Cleavage
- On {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Rarely formed by supergene oxidation in dump materials and slag
Where rockhounds find ramsbeckite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ecton mine, Audubon, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania, USA
- Bastenberg mine, Ramsbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Rammelsberg mine, near Goslar, the Glücksrad mine, near Oberschulenberg, the Wildemann mine, in the Harz Mountains, Germany
- Friedrichssegen mine, near Bad Ems, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Marie mine, near Wilnsdorf, Siegerland, Germany
- Waterbank mine, Wetton, Staffordshire, England
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Rarely formed by supergene oxidation in dump materials and slag. If you start seeing chalcopyrite, linarite, brochantite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ramsbeckite?+
Where is ramsbeckite found?+
Is ramsbeckite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like ramsbeckite?+
What minerals are found with ramsbeckite?+
What kind of rock does ramsbeckite form in?+
What is ramsbeckite used for?+
Find ramsbeckite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
