Identification guide · Phosphate Minerals
How to Identify Variscite
Variscite is usually green, blue-green, and yellow-green with a waxy luster and is translucent. It has a Mohs hardness of 4. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Apatite, Pyromorphite, and Amber; the tests below separate them.
Variscite identification checklist
| Color | Green, Blue-green, Yellow-green | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Waxy | Compare a fresh surface with glass and metal; this luster is softer than either. |
| Transparency | Translucent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 4 | A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Good | |
| Fracture | Conchoidal | Broken surfaces show smooth, curved, shell-like scoops. |
| Specific gravity | 2.6 | Ordinary rock-like heft (specific gravity about 2.6), similar to quartz. |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
Variscite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Apatite is harder (Mohs 5) than Variscite (Mohs 4), so Apatite will scratch Variscite and not the other way round. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not. Variscite vs Apatite →
Both sit near Mohs 4, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Variscite vs Pyromorphite →
Variscite is harder (Mohs 4) than Amber (Mohs 2.5), so Variscite will scratch Amber and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Variscite vs Amber →
Variscite is harder (Mohs 4) than Brucite (Mohs 2.5), so Variscite will scratch Brucite and not the other way round. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
Field tips
- Look for even green to blue-green massive material with a waxy to dull luster.
- Variscite is generally a purer green than turquoise and lacks turquoise's blue dominance.
- Moderate hardness near 4 and a nodular habit support identification.
Variscite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Variscite?
Check the color (green, blue-green, and yellow-green), the waxy luster, a Mohs hardness of 4 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Variscite?
Variscite has a Mohs hardness of 4. A steel knife blade (Mohs 5.5) scratches it; a copper coin does not.
What is the difference between Variscite and Apatite?
Variscite (Mohs 4, waxy luster) and Apatite (Mohs 5, vitreous to subresinous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Variscite vs Apatite comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Variscite worth anything?
Entry-level Variscite specimens sell for around $10, typical collector pieces about $55, and premium examples $350 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Variscite?
Variscite is most often green, blue-green, and yellow-green. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
