Branchite is a rare, fossil resin-like organic mineral found in pegmatite pockets. It typically appears as waxy, yellowish-white massive blobs or crusts and is predominantly associated with the famous pegmatite localities in Branchville, Connecticut.
Is this branchite?
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 branchite with a known reference. Branchite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellowish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive, rounded masses, crusts.
Often confused with
Branchite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside branchite
Minerals reported to co-occur with branchite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- C₂₀H₃₄
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 1.0-1.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, rounded masses, crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- granite pegmatites
Where rockhounds find branchite
Classic worldwide localities
- Branchville, Connecticut, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: granite pegmatites. If you start seeing albite, quartz, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, rounded masses, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify branchite?+
Where is branchite found?+
What rocks look like branchite?+
What minerals are found with branchite?+
What kind of rock does branchite form in?+
What is branchite used for?+
Find branchite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
