Footemineite is a rare calcium manganese beryllium phosphate, typically yellow. It occurs in thin fractures crossing quartz-microcline-spodumene pegmatite. It was first described from the Foote Lithium Co. mine (Foote mine), Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA.
Is this footemineite?
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 footemineite with a known reference. Footemineite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to slightly pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: bladed, prismatic.
Often confused with
Footemineite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Footemineite leaves white, Sarkinite leaves rose-red to yellow; luster reads vitreous to slightly pearly on Footemineite and greasy on Sarkinite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Footemineite leaves white, Allactite leaves gray to faint brown.
Often found alongside footemineite
Minerals reported to co-occur with footemineite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Mn²⁺₅Be₄(PO₄)₆(OH)₄·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 2.873 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to slightly pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Good on {01̄1} and {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- On thin fractures crossing quartz-microcline-spodumene pegmatite
Where rockhounds find footemineite
Classic worldwide localities
- Foote Lithium Co. mine (Foote mine), Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: On thin fractures crossing quartz-microcline-spodumene pegmatite. If you start seeing albite, analcime, eosphorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify footemineite?+
Where is footemineite found?+
Is footemineite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like footemineite?+
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Find footemineite on the map
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