Amamoorite is a rare zeolite mineral specifically identified from the Amamoor district in Queensland, Australia. It occurs primarily as thin, bladed crystals and is considered a distinctive locality variant within the stilbite group.
Is this amamoorite?
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 amamoorite with a known reference. Amamoorite sits at Mohs ~6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: shiny black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: bladed.
Often confused with
Amamoorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Amamoorite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~6 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Amamoorite leaves brown, Stilbite-Ca leaves white.
How to tell apart: Amamoorite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~6 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Amamoorite leaves brown, Heulandite leaves white.
Often found alongside amamoorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with amamoorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaMn²⁺₂Mn³⁺(Si₂O₇)O(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- ~6
- Density
- 3.88 g/cm³
- Colors
- Shiny black
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed
- Cleavage
- Fair on {100} and {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a metamorphosed manganese ore deposit
Where rockhounds find amamoorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Amamoor, Queensland, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a metamorphosed manganese ore deposit. If you start seeing braunite, hausmannite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify amamoorite?+
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What rocks look like amamoorite?+
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Find amamoorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
