Blakeite is a rare iron tellurite mineral that typically forms as small, tabular, reddish-brown crystals within oxidized zones of gold deposits. It is most commonly found in association with other tellurium minerals like emmonsite, making it a sought-after prize for micromounters and advanced collectors specializing in tellurates and tellurites.
Is this blakeite?
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 blakeite with a known reference. Blakeite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellowish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: earthy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, dark reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Blakeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Blakeite leaves yellowish brown, Emmonsite leaves pale yellow; luster reads earthy on Blakeite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Blakeite leaves yellowish brown, Rodalquilarite leaves greenish yellow; luster reads earthy on Blakeite and greasy on Rodalquilarite.
Often found alongside blakeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with blakeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₂³⁺(TeO₃)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish brown
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An inadequately described species
Where rockhounds find blakeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mohawk mine, Goldfield, Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An inadequately described species. If you start seeing emmonsite, quartz, tellurite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify blakeite?+
Where is blakeite found?+
Is blakeite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like blakeite?+
What minerals are found with blakeite?+
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Find blakeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
