Hutcheonite is an extremely rare titanium-rich garnet found primarily within calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions of carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. It typically occurs as microscopic grains alongside other high-temperature refractory minerals formed in the early solar nebula.

Hardness

Mohs

Transparency

Opaque

mineralrareGarnet Group family

Hutcheonite

Hardness: 7
Transparency: Opaque

No image

Is this hutcheonite?

2-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 hutcheonite with a known reference. Hutcheonite sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral to euhedral grains.

Often confused with

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

Often found alongside hutcheonite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₃Ti₂SiAl₂O₁₂
Mohs hardness: 7
Density: 3.86 g/cm³
Transparency: Opaque
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Anhedral to euhedral grains
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A secondary phase, apparently formed by iron-alkali-halogen metasomatic alteration of primary CAI phases like melilite, perovskite, and Ti-Al-diopside

Where rockhounds find hutcheonite

Classic worldwide localities

Hatch Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A secondary phase, apparently formed by iron-alkali-halogen metasomatic alteration of primary CAI phases like melilite, perovskite, and Ti-Al-diopside. If you start seeing monticellite, grossular, wadalite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral to euhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify hutcheonite?+

Mohs hardness is 7.

Where is hutcheonite found?+

Notable localities include Hatch Creek, Northern Territory, Australia.

What rocks look like hutcheonite?+

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

What minerals are found with hutcheonite?+

Hutcheonite commonly co-occurs with Monticellite, Grossular, Wadalite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does hutcheonite form in?+

Where it forms: A secondary phase, apparently formed by iron-alkali-halogen metasomatic alteration of primary CAI phases like melilite, perovskite, and Ti-Al-diopside. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is hutcheonite used for?+

Hutcheonite is used in collector.

Find hutcheonite on the map

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