Rodalquilarite is a rare tellurium-bearing mineral first identified in the volcanic-hosted gold deposits of Rodalquilar, Spain. It typically forms attractive bright green acicular crystal sprays within oxidized ore zones. Because of its extreme rarity and very limited type locality, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this rodalquilarite?
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 rodalquilarite with a known reference. Rodalquilarite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Rodalquilarite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rodalquilarite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: emerald green, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: small acicular crystals or radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Rodalquilarite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Rodalquilarite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2); streak differs — Rodalquilarite leaves pale yellow, Tellurite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 4); luster reads adamantine on Rodalquilarite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
Often found alongside rodalquilarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rodalquilarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- H₃Fe₂(TeO₃)₄Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.9-5.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Small Acicular Crystals or Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Epithermal Gold-telluride Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find rodalquilarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Rodalquilar, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Look in epithermal gold-telluride deposits country — that is the host setting where rodalquilarite typically forms. If you start seeing tellurite, emmonsite, jarosite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a small acicular crystals or radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rodalquilarite on the map
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