mineral
Variscite
Variscite (AlPO4·2H2O)
Hardness: 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Various shades of green, bluish-green, to white, Luster: Vitreous to waxy or dull, Crystal structure: Orthorhombic, Cleavage: Good in one direction, Specific gravity: 2.5 to 2.6
- Hardness
- 3
Identified More mineral →
Explore Variscite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 3.5 to 4.5 on the Mohs scale, Color: Various shades of green, bluish-green, to white, Luster: Vitreous to waxy or dull, Crystal structure: Orthorhombic, Cleavage: Good in one direction, Specific gravity: 2.5 to 2.6
Formation & geological history
Formed by the direct deposition from phosphatic solutions in weathering zones or hydrothermal environments, typically replacing limestone or other rocks.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as a gemstone, for cabochons, and in ornamental carvings or jewelry.
Geological facts
Variscite is often confused with turquoise due to its similar green and blue-green colors, but it contains aluminum phosphate rather than copper and aluminum phosphate.
Field identification & locations
Found in regions with phosphate-rich deposits such as Utah and Nevada in the USA, as well as Germany, Australia, and Poland. Identify by its characteristic green color, lower hardness than quartz, and matrix webbing.
More like this
Other mineral specimens
Sandstone (with potential mineral staining/concretions)
Arenite (SiO2 based)
sedimentary
Soil with Mineral Detritus and Quartz Fragments
Regolith / Silicate Mineral Aggregate
sedimentary
Limonite / Goethite (Iron Ore Mineral nodule)
FeO(OH)·nH2O / FeO(OH)
mineral
Septarian Pebble
Septarian nodule / Concretion
sedimentary
Schist
Schist
Metamorphic
Potassium Feldspar (Orthoclase)
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8)
mineral