Strashimirite is a rare secondary copper arsenate typically found as delicate, radiating sprays of acicular crystals or soft globular aggregates. It is best identified in the field by its distinct pale green color and its association with other copper minerals in the oxidized zones of ore deposits.
Is this strashimirite?
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 strashimirite with a known reference. Strashimirite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, 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: pearly to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: encrustations, euhedral crystals, fibrous.
Often confused with
Strashimirite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Strashimirite leaves pale green, Clinoclase leaves bluish green; luster reads pearly to greasy on Strashimirite and vitreous, pearly on cleavages on Clinoclase.
How to tell apart: Cornubite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~4 vs. 2.5-3); luster reads pearly to greasy on Strashimirite and vitreous on Cornubite.
Often found alongside strashimirite
Minerals reported to co-occur with strashimirite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₈(AsO₄)₄(OH)₄·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 3.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale green
- Luster
- Pearly to greasy
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations, euhedral crystals, fibrous
- Cleavage
- May exhibit parting ⊥ elongation
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of Cu–As-bearing mineral deposits
Where rockhounds find strashimirite
Classic worldwide localities
- Majuba Hill mine, Antelope district, Pershing Co., in the Nickel mine, Table Mountain district, Churchill Co., from the San Rafael mine, Lodi district, Nye Co., and the Burrus mine, Pyramid district, Washoe Co., Nevada, USA
- Gold Hill, Tooele Co., and in the Centennial Eureka mine, Tintic district, Juab Co., Utah, USA
- Zapachitsa copper deposit, Ismerez, Stara-Planina, Bulgaria
- Novoveská Huta, Czech Republic
- Kamsdorf and Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany
- Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in the oxidation zone of Cu–As-bearing mineral deposits. If you start seeing tyrolite, cornwallite, clinoclase in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations, euhedral crystals, fibrous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find strashimirite on the map
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