Caryinite is a rare arsenic-bearing mineral typically found as massive or granular aggregates in metamorphosed manganese deposits. It is most famous for its association with the classic Långban mining district in Sweden, where it occurs within complex skarn assemblages.
Is this caryinite?
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 caryinite with a known reference. Caryinite 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. Caryinite leaves a light yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Caryinite typically shows a vitreous to greasy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-brown, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Caryinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Caryinite leaves light yellow, Alluaudite leaves yellowish white; luster reads vitreous to greasy on Caryinite and vitreous to resinous on Alluaudite.
How to tell apart: Adelite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Caryinite leaves light yellow, Adelite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to greasy on Caryinite and vitreous on Adelite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Caryinite leaves light yellow, Cahnite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to greasy on Caryinite and vitreous on Cahnite.
Often found alongside caryinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with caryinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Pb,Ca,Mn)₂(Mn,Mg)₂(AsO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.2 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to Greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on quality
Where rockhounds find caryinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
- Nordmark, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where caryinite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, hedyphane, barite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify caryinite?+
Where is caryinite found?+
How much is caryinite worth?+
Is caryinite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like caryinite?+
What minerals are found with caryinite?+
What kind of rock does caryinite form in?+
What is caryinite used for?+
Find caryinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
