Charmarite is a rare member of the hydrotalcite group, typically orange-brown to pale brown. It occurs in silicate and carbonate cavities and in pegmatites cutting nepheline syenite, and is the manganese-dominant analogue of quintinite. It is prized by advanced collectors of microminerals.
Is this charmarite?
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 charmarite with a known reference. Charmarite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Charmarite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Charmarite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange-brown, pale brown, pale blue, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Charmarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside charmarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with charmarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺₄Al₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₂·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 2.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Granular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Complexes
Where rockhounds find charmarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kovdor Massif, Russia
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous complexes country, the host setting where charmarite typically forms. If you start seeing dolomite, calcite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, granular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify charmarite?+
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What rocks look like charmarite?+
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Find charmarite on the map
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