Braccoite is a rare manganese silicate mineral known primarily from the Molinello Mine in Liguria, Italy. It typically forms as thin, platy yellow to brown crystals associated with other manganese minerals in metamorphosed sedimentary rocks.
Is this braccoite?
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 braccoite with a known reference. Braccoite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Braccoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Inesite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Braccoite leaves pale yellow, Inesite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Piemontite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Braccoite leaves pale yellow, Piemontite leaves reddish.
Often found alongside braccoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with braccoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaMn₅[Si₅O₁₄(OH)](AsO₃OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.56 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In mineralized quartz veins cutting quartzite
Where rockhounds find braccoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Valletta mine dumps, Maira Valley, Cuneo province, Piedmont, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In mineralized quartz veins cutting quartzite. If you start seeing tiragalloite, gamagarite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify braccoite?+
Where is braccoite found?+
Is braccoite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like braccoite?+
What minerals are found with braccoite?+
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Find braccoite on the map
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