Anandite is a rare barium-bearing mica known for its unique chemical composition containing sulfur in the structure. It typically occurs as small, dark, brittle platy crystals in metamorphic skarn environments. Collectors prize it for its scarcity and its inclusion in the mica group of sheet silicates.
Is this anandite?
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 anandite with a known reference. Anandite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Anandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Anandite leaves gray white, Biotite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Anandite and splendent to submetallic, vitreous, pearly on cleavage on Biotite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Anandite leaves gray white, Phlogopite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Anandite and pearly to submetallic on cleavage on Phlogopite.
Often found alongside anandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with anandite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaFe₃(Si₃Fe)O₁₀S(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.94 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As monomineralic veinlets and lenses in a banded magnetite deposit capped by banded magnetite-barite rock
Where rockhounds find anandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wilagedera iron prospect, North Western Province, Sri Lanka
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As monomineralic veinlets and lenses in a banded magnetite deposit capped by banded magnetite-barite rock. If you start seeing magnetite, chalcopyrite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify anandite?+
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What rocks look like anandite?+
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Find anandite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
