Tokyoite is a rare barium manganese vanadate that typically forms as small, attractive tabular crystals in oxidized manganese deposits. It is most recognized for its characteristic yellow-green color and is highly prized by systematic mineral collectors. Due to its arsenic content, it should be handled with standard precautions and stored carefully.
Is this tokyoite?
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 tokyoite with a known reference. Tokyoite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tokyoite leaves a dark brownish red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tokyoite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Tokyoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tokyoite leaves dark brownish red, Tsumcorite leaves yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tokyoite leaves dark brownish red, Hidalgoite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Tokyoite and dull on Hidalgoite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Tokyoite leaves dark brownish red, Bayldonite leaves pale green; luster reads vitreous on Tokyoite and resinous on Bayldonite.
Often found alongside tokyoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tokyoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂Mn³⁺(VO₄)₂(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.96 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark Brownish Red
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese Ore Deposits
Where rockhounds find tokyoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kurose mine, Japan
- Hagendorf-Pleystein, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese ore deposits country, the host setting where tokyoite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, barite, manganese oxides in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tokyoite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
