Tululite is a rare calcium iron aluminum oxide that forms yellow with greenish tint irregular grains. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2014. It was first described from Tulul Al Hammam area, northern Siwaqa complex, central Jordan.
Is this tululite?
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 tululite with a known reference. Tululite sits at Mohs 6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tululite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tululite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: irregular grains.
Often confused with
Tululite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Tululite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5 vs. 2); luster reads vitreous on Tululite and subadamantine on Tellurite.
How to tell apart: Tululite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs, so Tululite leaves white, Gold leaves golden yellow; luster reads vitreous on Tululite and metallic on Gold.
Often found alongside tululite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tululite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₁₄(Fe³⁺,Al)(Al,Zn,Fe³⁺,Si,P,Mn,Mg)₁₅O₃₆
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.826 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Irregular Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Telluride-bearing Hydrothermal Veins
Where rockhounds find tululite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tulul Al Hammam area, northern Siwaqa complex, central Jordan
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized telluride-bearing hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where tululite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, hematite, emmonsite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a irregular grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tululite?+
Where is tululite found?+
What rocks look like tululite?+
What minerals are found with tululite?+
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Find tululite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
