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. Zincowoodwardite leaves a white to bluish white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zincowoodwardite typically shows a waxy 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, so Zincowoodwardite leaves white to bluish white, Woodwardite leaves white; luster reads waxy on Zincowoodwardite and pearly on Woodwardite.
How to tell apart: Hydrotalcite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2 vs. 1); streak differs, so Zincowoodwardite leaves white to bluish white, Hydrotalcite leaves white; luster reads waxy on Zincowoodwardite and greasy to waxy on Hydrotalcite.
How to tell apart: Serpierite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2 vs. 1); streak differs, so Zincowoodwardite leaves white to bluish white, Serpierite leaves white; luster reads waxy on Zincowoodwardite and pearly 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
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zinc Ore Deposits
Where rockhounds find zincowoodwardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lavrion District, Greece
- Saxony, Germany
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zinc ore deposits country, 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?+
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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