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 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vonbezingite leaves a pale blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vonbezingite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark blue.
- 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.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Vonbezingite leaves pale blue, Azurite leaves light blue; luster reads vitreous on Vonbezingite and vitreous to dull on Azurite.
How to tell apart: Vonbezingite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2.5); streak differs — Vonbezingite leaves pale blue, Chalcanthite leaves white.
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
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.98 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Prismatic Crystals, Radiating Clusters
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail size specimen
Where rockhounds find vonbezingite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where vonbezingite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, hausmannite, baryte in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or prismatic crystals, radiating clusters habit, so 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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