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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous, pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, yellow, green, brown, colorless, blue, brownish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: radial, stalactitic, stellate.
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)₃·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 2.36 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous, pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Radial, stalactitic, stellate
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {110}; good on {101}; distinct on {010}
- Fluorescence
- Yellow sky blue under SW UV; yellow strong sky blue under LW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in low-grade metamorphic rocks and phosphate deposits; rare in hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find wavellite
5 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- General Trimble’s mine, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA
- Wood mine, Cocke Co., Tennessee, USA
- Willard mine, Willard district, Pershing Co., Nevada, USA
- High Down quarry, Filleigh, near South Moulton, Devon, England
- Clonmel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
- Rotläufchen mine, Waldgirmes, at the Dünsberg, near Giessen, from Oberscheld, near Dillenburg, in the Lahr-Dill area, Hesse, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in low-grade metamorphic rocks and phosphate deposits; rare in hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing crandallite, variscite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: radial, stalactitic, stellate. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Arkansas, Pennsylvania, Vermont. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify wavellite?+
Where is wavellite found?+
Can I find wavellite in the United States?+
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.
