Voudourisite is a rare cadmium sulfate mineral typically found as a secondary mineral in oxidized hydrothermal ore deposits. It most commonly occurs as delicate acicular needles or powdery efflorescences, making it a highly prized and fragile specimen for advanced collectors.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Voudourisite

Hardness: ~3
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

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Is this voudourisite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch voudourisite with a known reference. Voudourisite sits at Mohs ~3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, efflorescent crusts.

Often confused with

Voudourisite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Voudourisite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~3 vs. 2).

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Often found alongside voudourisite

Minerals reported to co-occur with voudourisite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: CdSO₄·H₂O
Mohs hardness: ~3
Density: 3.80 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Acicular crystals, efflorescent crusts
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A secondary mineral from the weathering of primary hawleyite and greenockite

Where rockhounds find voudourisite

Classic worldwide localities

Esperanza Mine, Kaminiza area, #19 Mine, Ano Sounio area, and at the North Mine, Villia area, Lavrion Mining District, Greece

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A secondary mineral from the weathering of primary hawleyite and greenockite. If you start seeing lazaridisite, sphalerite, galena in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, efflorescent crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify voudourisite?+

Mohs hardness is ~3. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white.

Where is voudourisite found?+

Notable localities include Esperanza Mine, Kaminiza area, #19 Mine, Ano Sounio area, and at the North Mine, Villia area, Lavrion Mining District, Greece.

Is voudourisite safe to handle?+

Voudourisite contains cadmium and calls for real care. Contains cadmium, a toxic heavy metal; handle with care and wash hands thoroughly after contact.

What rocks look like voudourisite?+

Voudourisite is most often confused with Goslarite, Melanterite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with voudourisite?+

Voudourisite commonly co-occurs with Lazaridisite, Sphalerite, Galena, Edwardsite, Chalcanthite, Gypsum. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does voudourisite form in?+

Where it forms: A secondary mineral from the weathering of primary hawleyite and greenockite. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is voudourisite used for?+

Voudourisite is used in collector.

Find voudourisite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.