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 — that is 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.
