Sampleite is a rare copper-calcium phosphate mineral known for its distinctive bright blue to greenish-blue color. It typically forms delicate, platy crystals or rosettes found within the oxidized zones of copper-rich hydrothermal deposits.
Is this sampleite?
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 sampleite with a known reference. Sampleite 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. Sampleite leaves a pale blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sampleite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, greenish-blue, pale blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, rosettes, crusts.
Often confused with
Sampleite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Turquoise is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Sampleite leaves pale blue, Turquoise leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Sampleite and waxy on Turquoise.
How to tell apart: Sampleite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Sampleite leaves pale blue, Vivianite leaves white to light blue.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sampleite leaves pale blue, Vauxite leaves white.
Often found alongside sampleite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sampleite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCaCu₅(PO₄)₄Cl·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Rosettes, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Copper Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and locality
Where rockhounds find sampleite
Classic worldwide localities
- Chuquicamata, Chile
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Milpillas mine, Mexico
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of copper ore deposits country, the host setting where sampleite typically forms. If you start seeing atacamite, chrysocolla, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, rosettes, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sampleite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
