Arakiite is an extremely rare zinc-manganese arsenate mineral typically found in metamorphosed ore deposits. It usually appears as small, orange tabular crystals or granular aggregates, often occurring alongside other rare arsenate minerals in the Langban mining district of Sweden.
Is this arakiite?
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 arakiite with a known reference. Arakiite 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: pale brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous to submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish brown, orange brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: aggregates, anhedral grains, micaceous.
Often confused with
Arakiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads resinous to submetallic on Arakiite and vitreous, pearly to submetallic on cleavages on Hematolite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Arakiite leaves pale brown, Dixenite leaves brownish-red; luster reads resinous to submetallic on Arakiite and metallic to resinous on Dixenite.
Often found alongside arakiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with arakiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ZnMn₁₂Fe₂(AsO₃)(AsO₄)₂(OH)₂₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.41 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale brown
- Luster
- Resinous to submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, anhedral grains, micaceous
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- From a museum specimen described as representing “ore-bearing matrix”
Where rockhounds find arakiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: From a museum specimen described as representing “ore-bearing matrix”. If you start seeing calcite, magnussonite, specular hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, anhedral grains, micaceous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify arakiite?+
Where is arakiite found?+
Is arakiite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like arakiite?+
What minerals are found with arakiite?+
What kind of rock does arakiite form in?+
What is arakiite used for?+
Find arakiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
