Variscite
“The turquoise lookalike”
Variscite is a hydrated aluminum phosphate mineral with a soft apple-green to emerald-green color that's easily mistaken for turquoise. It forms when phosphate-rich groundwater reacts with aluminum-rich rocks near the surface, and high-quality specimens are increasingly sought after by jewelry makers.
hydrated aluminum phosphate (AlPO₄·2H₂O)
Fairfield (Utah, USA), Lucin (Utah), Palazuelo de las Cuevas (Spain), Saxony (Germany — type locality), Queensland (Australia)
3.5-5
Variscite takes its name from 'Variscia,' the old Latin name for the Vogtland district in Saxony, Germany, where it was first scientifically described in 1837.
Test Your Knowledge
Why is variscite commonly confused with turquoise despite being a different mineral?
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