Kinichilite is a rare iron tellurite mineral that typically forms distinct, thin hexagonal dark brown plates. It is primarily found in the oxidized zones of tellurium-rich ore deposits, often appearing as coatings or radial sprays in rock cavities.
Is this kinichilite?
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 kinichilite with a known reference. Kinichilite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kinichilite leaves a brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kinichilite typically shows a subadamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: hexagonal plates, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Kinichilite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 3); streak differs, so Kinichilite leaves brown, Emmonsite leaves pale yellow; luster reads subadamantine on Kinichilite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kinichilite leaves brown, Blakeite leaves yellowish brown; luster reads subadamantine on Kinichilite and adamantine on Blakeite.
Often found alongside kinichilite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kinichilite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₀.₅Mn²⁺Fe³⁺(Te⁴⁺O₃)₃·4.5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.26 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal Plates, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Tellurium-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
Where rockhounds find kinichilite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kawazu mine, Japan
- Moctezuma, Mexico
- Tombstone, Arizona
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized tellurium-bearing hydrothermal deposits country, the host setting where kinichilite typically forms. If you start seeing tellurite, paratellurite, quetzalcoatlite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a hexagonal plates, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kinichilite?+
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What rocks look like kinichilite?+
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Find kinichilite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
