Omongwaite is a very rare silicate mineral typically found in the miarolitic cavities of the Brandberg Massif in Namibia. It usually appears as small, fragile, colorless to pale yellow tabular crystals often grouped in radial or fan-like aggregates.
Is this omongwaite?
3-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 omongwaite with a known reference. Omongwaite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 3Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: inclusions, pseudo hexagonal.
Often confused with
Omongwaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside omongwaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with omongwaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Ca₅(SO₄)₆(H₂O)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.720 g/cm³
- Colors
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, pseudo hexagonal
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As inclusions in gypsum in a dry lake, closed-basin evaporite deposit
Where rockhounds find omongwaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Omongwa pan, near Aminuis, 140 km SSE of Gobabis, southwestern Kalahari, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As inclusions in gypsum in a dry lake, closed-basin evaporite deposit. If you start seeing gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: inclusions, pseudo hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify omongwaite?+
Where is omongwaite found?+
What rocks look like omongwaite?+
What minerals are found with omongwaite?+
What kind of rock does omongwaite form in?+
What is omongwaite used for?+
Find omongwaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
