Chloritoid is a diagnostic metamorphic mineral often occurring as distinct tabular crystals or rosettes within foliated rocks like schist. Collectors should look for its characteristic dark green to gray color and prominent cleavage planes that distinguish it from the softer, more flexible chlorite group.
Is this chloritoid?
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 chloritoid with a known reference. Chloritoid sits at Mohs 6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Chloritoid leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chloritoid typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, gray, blackish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, platy, foliated, or micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Chloritoid vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside chloritoid
Minerals reported to co-occur with chloritoid. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe,Mg,Mn)₂Al₄Si₂O₁₀(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.5-3.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Platy, Foliated, Or Micaceous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Rocks Like Pelitic Schists and Phyllites
- Typical price
- $10-50 per specimen
Where rockhounds find chloritoid
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Ile de Groix, France
- Ottré, Belgium
- Gouverneur, New York, USA
- Val di Vizze, Italy
- Zillertal, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic rocks like pelitic schists and phyllites country — that is the host setting where chloritoid typically forms. If you start seeing staurolite, garnet, kyanite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, platy, foliated, or micaceous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in North Carolina — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify chloritoid?+
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Find chloritoid on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
