Vonbezingite is a rare copper sulfate mineral characterized by its striking deep blue, acicular crystal habit. It is found exclusively in the Kalahari Manganese Field of South Africa, typically occurring as delicate clusters in association with manganese minerals like hausmannite.
Is this vonbezingite?
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 vonbezingite with a known reference. Vonbezingite sits at Mohs ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous on fractures, subvitreous on crystal faces.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: azure.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular or prismatic crystals, radiating clusters.
Often confused with
Vonbezingite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vonbezingite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vonbezingite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₆Cu₃(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 2.82 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous on fractures, subvitreous on crystal faces
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or prismatic crystals, radiating clusters
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare mineral formed during a period of evaporation of surface or ground waters at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure
Where rockhounds find vonbezingite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wessels mine, near Kuruman, Cape Province, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare mineral formed during a period of evaporation of surface or ground waters at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure. If you start seeing barite, azurite, sturmanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular or prismatic crystals, radiating clusters. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find vonbezingite on the map
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