Roselite is a striking cobalt-bearing arsenate known for its intense rose-red to magenta coloration. It typically forms as small, attractive prismatic crystals or encrusting aggregates, often found associated with other cobalt minerals in hydrothermal veins.
Is this roselite?
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 roselite with a known reference. Roselite 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. Roselite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Roselite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: rose-red, pink, magenta.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, drusy crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Roselite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Roselite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 1.5-2.5); streak differs — Roselite leaves white, Erythrite leaves pale pink; luster reads vitreous on Roselite and adamantine to pearly on Erythrite.
How to tell apart: Cobaltite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Roselite leaves white, Cobaltite leaves greyish-black; luster reads vitreous on Roselite and metallic on Cobaltite.
Often found alongside roselite
Minerals reported to co-occur with roselite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Co(AsO₄)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Short Prismatic Crystals, Drusy Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Cobalt-nickel Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail to miniature
Where rockhounds find roselite
Classic worldwide localities
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Bou Azzer, Morocco
- Copiapó, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in cobalt-nickel ore deposits country — that is the host setting where roselite typically forms. If you start seeing erythrite, dolomite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a short prismatic crystals, drusy crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find roselite on the map
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