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 1, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white to bluish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale blue, bluish white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal, tabular.
Often confused with
Zincowoodwardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Zincowoodwardite leaves white to bluish white, Woodwardite leaves light blue; luster reads waxy on Zincowoodwardite and pearly on Woodwardite.
How to tell apart: Hydrotalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2 vs. 1); luster reads waxy on Zincowoodwardite and satiny to greasy or waxy on Hydrotalcite.
How to tell apart: Serpierite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1); streak differs, so Zincowoodwardite leaves white to bluish white, Serpierite leaves greenish white; luster reads waxy on Zincowoodwardite and vitreous, pearly on cleavages on Serpierite.
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
- 1
- Density
- 2.66 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White to bluish white
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo hexagonal, tabular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
Where rockhounds find zincowoodwardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Laurion (Lavrion, Laurium) and the Hilarion and Christiana mines at Kamariza, near Laurion, Attica, Greece
Field-hunting tip
If you start seeing serpierite, hemimorphite, glaucocerinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify zincowoodwardite?+
Where is zincowoodwardite found?+
What rocks look like zincowoodwardite?+
What minerals are found with zincowoodwardite?+
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Find zincowoodwardite on the map
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