Carpathite is a rare polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mineral that forms delicate, needle-like yellow crystals. It is highly prized by collectors for its intense, electric-blue fluorescence under ultraviolet light.
Is this carpathite?
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 carpathite with a known reference. Carpathite sits at Mohs 1.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Carpathite leaves a yellowish white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Carpathite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale yellow, yellow, golden yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous, thin blades.
Often confused with
Carpathite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside carpathite
Minerals reported to co-occur with carpathite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- C₂₄H₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 1.35 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Fibrous, Thin Blades
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Fluorescence
- Bright Blue Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Mercury-bearing Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and clarity
Where rockhounds find carpathite
Classic worldwide localities
- Transcarpathian region, Ukraine
- Clear Creek, San Benito County, California, USA
- Pokuttya, Ukraine
Field-hunting tip
Look in mercury-bearing hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where carpathite typically forms. If you start seeing cinnabar, quartz, serpentine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, fibrous, thin blades habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find carpathite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
