Wavellite is best recognized for its stunning radial, star-like, or botryoidal clusters, often found as spherical aggregates that exhibit a unique internal structure when broken. Collectors prize these 'stars' for their delicate form and attractive green to yellow color, typically found lining cavities in phosphate-rich rocks.
Is this wavellite?
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 wavellite with a known reference. Wavellite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Wavellite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Wavellite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, yellow, green, brown, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: botryoidal, globular, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Wavellite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside wavellite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wavellite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₃(PO₄)₂(OH,F)₃·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 2.3-2.4 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, Globular, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in Two Directions
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent Green Under LW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Sedimentary or Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $10-50 for small specimens, $100-500+ for high-quality radial clusters
Where rockhounds find wavellite
3 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Arkansas, USA
- Cornwall, England
- Saxony, Germany
- Zaragoza, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in sedimentary or metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where wavellite typically forms. If you start seeing variscite, crandallite, kidwellite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a botryoidal, globular, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Arkansas. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify wavellite?+
Where is wavellite found?+
Can I find wavellite in the United States?+
How much is wavellite worth?+
What rocks look like wavellite?+
What minerals are found with wavellite?+
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Find wavellite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
