Burtite is a very rare calcium tin hydroxide mineral typically found in skarn deposits. It usually forms as small, colorless to white tabular crystals and is primarily a specimen for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this burtite?
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 burtite with a known reference. Burtite sits at Mohs ~3, 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: vitreous; surface typically earthy due to alteration.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Burtite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous; surface typically earthy due to alteration on Burtite and resinous on Malayaite.
How to tell apart: Stannite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4 vs. ~3); streak differs, so Burtite leaves white, Stannite leaves blackish; luster reads vitreous; surface typically earthy due to alteration on Burtite and metallic on Stannite.
Often found alongside burtite
Minerals reported to co-occur with burtite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaSn(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 3.28 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous; surface typically earthy due to alteration
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Pseudocubic, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- From a garnetite in a tin-bearing skarn, formed under conditions of relatively low temperature and low XCO2
Where rockhounds find burtite
Classic worldwide localities
- On the west bank of the Beht River, near El Hamman, central Morocco (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: From a garnetite in a tin-bearing skarn, formed under conditions of relatively low temperature and low XCO2. If you start seeing wickmanite, stokesite, datolite 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 burtite?+
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What rocks look like burtite?+
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Find burtite on the map
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