Serpierite is a secondary copper mineral typically found as delicate, sky-blue radiating sprays or crusts in oxidized mine tailings. It is most famous from the ancient mining district of Lavrion, where it forms beautiful contrasty specimens on matrix.
Is this serpierite?
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 serpierite with a known reference. Serpierite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Serpierite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Serpierite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: sky-blue, pale blue, bluish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Serpierite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Serpierite leaves white, Devilline leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Serpierite and vitreous on Devilline.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Serpierite leaves white, Langite leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Serpierite and vitreous on Langite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Serpierite leaves white, Posnjakite leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Serpierite and vitreous on Posnjakite.
Often found alongside serpierite
Minerals reported to co-occur with serpierite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCu₄(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.32 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Copper-bearing Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-60 for small thumbnails, $50-200 for aesthetic display specimens
Where rockhounds find serpierite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lavrion, Greece
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Broken Hill, Australia
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of copper-bearing ore deposits country — that is the host setting where serpierite typically forms. If you start seeing smithsonite, aurichalcite, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find serpierite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
