Tyrolite is a secondary copper arsenate mineral typically found as attractive apple-green to blue-green foliated crusts or small tabular crystal groups. It forms in the oxidized zones of copper deposits and is highly prized by collectors for its distinctive pearly luster and delicate radial habits.
Is this tyrolite?
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 tyrolite with a known reference. Tyrolite sits at Mohs 1.5-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tyrolite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tyrolite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, bluish-green, apple-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, foliated, botryoidal, crusts.
Often confused with
Tyrolite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Tyrolite leaves pale green, Aurichalcite leaves pale blue.
How to tell apart: Malachite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Tyrolite leaves pale green, Malachite leaves light green; luster reads pearly on Tyrolite and vitreous on Malachite.
How to tell apart: Conichalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Tyrolite leaves pale green, Conichalcite leaves light green; luster reads pearly on Tyrolite and vitreous on Conichalcite.
Often found alongside tyrolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tyrolite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCu₅(AsO₄)₂CO₃(OH)₄·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 3.1-3.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Foliated, Botryoidal, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Copper Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for micro to thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find tyrolite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tyrol, Austria
- Cornwall, England
- Majuba Hill, Nevada, USA
- Chuquicamata, Chile
- Laurion, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized copper ore deposits country — that is the host setting where tyrolite typically forms. If you start seeing azurite, malachite, conichalcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, foliated, botryoidal, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tyrolite on the map
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