Variscite is a hydrated aluminum phosphate mineral prized for its beautiful apple-green to mint-green color. It is typically found in massive, nodular, or crust forms rather than distinct crystals, making it a favorite material for cabochons and lapidary work.
Is this variscite?
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 variscite with a known reference. Variscite sits at Mohs 3.5-4.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Variscite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Variscite typically shows a waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: apple green, emerald green, bluish green, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, nodules, crusts, botryoidal.
Often confused with
Variscite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside variscite
Minerals reported to co-occur with variscite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AlPO₄·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4.5
- Density
- 2.5-2.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Nodules, Crusts, Botryoidal
- Cleavage
- Distinct in One Direction
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Lapidary, Gemstone, Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Phosphate Deposits, Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $10-100 for slabs/cabochons, $50-300 for high-quality specimens
Where rockhounds find variscite
8 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Lucin, Utah, USA
- Fairfield, Utah, USA
- Sachsen, Germany
- Queensland, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary phosphate deposits, hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where variscite typically forms. If you start seeing wavellite, crandallite, apatite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, nodules, crusts, botryoidal habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah, Nevada, Arkansas — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find variscite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
