Woodwardite is a rare secondary sulfate mineral that typically forms as delicate blue to blue-green crusts or botryoidal coatings in oxidized copper deposits. It is frequently associated with other copper sulfates and can be distinguished by its distinctively pearly luster and soft texture.
Is this woodwardite?
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 woodwardite with a known reference. Woodwardite sits at Mohs 1.5-2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Woodwardite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Woodwardite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, blue-green, green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: botryoidal, crusts, or earthy aggregates.
Often confused with
Woodwardite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Woodwardite leaves white, Cyanotrichite leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Woodwardite and silky on Cyanotrichite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Woodwardite leaves white, Devilline leaves pale blue; luster reads pearly on Woodwardite and vitreous on Devilline.
Often found alongside woodwardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with woodwardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄Al₂(SO₄)(OH)₁₂·2-4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2.5
- Density
- 2.0-2.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Botryoidal, Crusts, Or Earthy Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Copper-sulfide Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find woodwardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cornwall, UK
- Laurium, Greece
- Brixlegg, Austria
- Copiapo, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized copper-sulfide ore deposits country — that is the host setting where woodwardite typically forms. If you start seeing brochantite, linarite, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a botryoidal, crusts, or earthy aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify woodwardite?+
Where is woodwardite found?+
How much is woodwardite worth?+
Is woodwardite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like woodwardite?+
What minerals are found with woodwardite?+
What kind of rock does woodwardite form in?+
What is woodwardite used for?+
Find woodwardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
