Zincowoodwardite is a rare secondary sulfate mineral typically found as delicate, sky-blue to blue-green crusts or aggregates in oxidized zones of zinc deposits. It is often identified by its characteristic platy habit and occurrence as a weathering product of sphalerite, though it requires laboratory analysis to confirm its specific chemistry among similar group members.
Is this zincowoodwardite?
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 zincowoodwardite with a known reference. Zincowoodwardite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Zincowoodwardite leaves a pale blue streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zincowoodwardite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, coatings.
Often confused with
Zincowoodwardite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Zincowoodwardite leaves pale blue, Woodwardite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Zincowoodwardite leaves pale blue, Hydrotalcite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Zincowoodwardite leaves pale blue, Serpierite leaves white.
Often found alongside zincowoodwardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zincowoodwardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- [Zn₁₋ₓAlₓ(OH)₂][(SO₄)ₓ/₂·nH₂O]
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.28 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Blue
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Coatings
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zinc Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for micro-mounts
Where rockhounds find zincowoodwardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lavrion District, Greece
- Saxony, Germany
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zinc ore deposits country — that is the host setting where zincowoodwardite typically forms. If you start seeing smithsonite, hemimorphite, aurichalcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify zincowoodwardite?+
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What rocks look like zincowoodwardite?+
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Find zincowoodwardite on the map
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