Zdenĕkite is a rare sodium lead copper arsenate that forms turquoise-blue tabular crystals. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 1992. It was first described from Cap Garonne mine, near le Pradet, Var, France.
Is this zdenĕkite?
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 zdenĕkite with a known reference. Zdenĕkite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, turquoise.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: crystalline, tabular.
Often confused with
Zdenĕkite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Zdenĕkite leaves pale blue, Woodwardite leaves light blue; luster reads vitreous on Zdenĕkite and pearly on Woodwardite.
How to tell apart: Connellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 1.5-2).
Often found alongside zdenĕkite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zdenĕkite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaPbCu₅(AsO₄)₄Cl·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 4.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, tabular
- Cleavage
- On {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare post-mining mineral formed in the oxidized zone of a red-bed sandstone Pb–Cu deposit (Cap Garonne mine, France)
Where rockhounds find zdenĕkite
Classic worldwide localities
- Cap Garonne mine, near le Pradet, Var, France
- Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare post-mining mineral formed in the oxidized zone of a red-bed sandstone Pb–Cu deposit (Cap Garonne mine, France). If you start seeing olivenite, geminite, antlerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify zdenĕkite?+
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Find zdenĕkite on the map
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