Chlorartinite is an extremely rare carbonate-chloride mineral found in alkaline rock complexes. It typically appears as small, fragile, colorless to white tabular crystals that are highly sensitive to humidity and must be stored in airtight containers.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrare

Chlorartinite

Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Semitransparent

Is this chlorartinite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch chlorartinite with a known reference. Chlorartinite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: crystalline.

Often confused with

Chlorartinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside chlorartinite

Minerals reported to co-occur with chlorartinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Mg₂CO₃Cl(OH)·2.5H₂O
Mohs hardness: 2
Density: 1.87 g/cm³
Colors: White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Crystalline
Cleavage: Perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In sublimates around a volcanic fissure

Where rockhounds find chlorartinite

Classic worldwide localities

Tolbachik fissure volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In sublimates around a volcanic fissure. If you start seeing halite, gypsum, aragonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify chlorartinite?+

Mohs hardness is 2. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include white.

Where is chlorartinite found?+

Notable localities include Tolbachik fissure volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.

What rocks look like chlorartinite?+

Chlorartinite is most often confused with Nahcolite, Thermonatrite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with chlorartinite?+

Chlorartinite commonly co-occurs with Halite, Gypsum, Aragonite, Nesquehonite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does chlorartinite form in?+

Where it forms: In sublimates around a volcanic fissure. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is chlorartinite used for?+

Chlorartinite is used in collector.

Find chlorartinite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.