Chloromenite is a very rare copper selenite mineral that occurs as small, distinctively green tabular crystals or crusts. It is most commonly found as a secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of seleniferous hydrothermal ore deposits. Collectors primarily find this material in specialized localities associated with other rare selenium minerals.
Is this chloromenite?
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 chloromenite with a known reference. Chloromenite sits at Mohs 1.5-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellowish green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: tobacco green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular.
Often confused with
Chloromenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Chloromenite leaves yellowish green, Chalcomenite leaves light blue.
How to tell apart: Malachite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1.5-2.5); streak differs, so Chloromenite leaves yellowish green, Malachite leaves pale green; luster reads vitreous on Chloromenite and adamantine to vitreous; silky if fibrous; dull to earthy if massive on Malachite.
Often found alongside chloromenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chloromenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₉O₂(Se⁴⁺O₃)₄Cl₆
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2.5
- Density
- 4.15 g/cm³
- Colors
- Tobacco green
- Streak
- Yellowish green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {101}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed in a volcanic fumarole
Where rockhounds find chloromenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tolbachik fissure volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed in a volcanic fumarole. If you start seeing melanothallite, sofiite, georgbokiite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify chloromenite?+
Where is chloromenite found?+
Is chloromenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like chloromenite?+
What minerals are found with chloromenite?+
What kind of rock does chloromenite form in?+
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Find chloromenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
