Chromatite is an extremely rare calcium chromate mineral typically found as yellow crusts in hyper-arid desert environments. It is a highly sought-after rarity for advanced collectors due to its association with unique nitrate-rich evaporite deposits. Due to its chemical composition, it should be stored in a sealed container and handled with significant safety precautions.
Is this chromatite?
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 chromatite with a known reference. Chromatite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lemon.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: crusts, granular.
Often confused with
Chromatite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Chromatite leaves light yellow, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Chromatite and resinous, subadamantine to adamantine on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Chromatite leaves light yellow, Crocoite leaves yellow-orange; luster reads vitreous on Chromatite and adamantine on Crocoite.
Often found alongside chromatite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chromatite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaCrO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 3.142 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, granular
- Cleavage
- One prismatic, poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed in an arid climate along fractures in limestones and marls by ascending ground water, the chromium derived from underlying bituminous phosphatic marls
Where rockhounds find chromatite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ma’aleh Adumim, along the Jerusalem-Jericho highway, and in the Hatrurim Formation, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed in an arid climate along fractures in limestones and marls by ascending ground water, the chromium derived from underlying bituminous phosphatic marls. If you start seeing gypsum, calcite, aragonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crusts, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify chromatite?+
Where is chromatite found?+
Is chromatite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like chromatite?+
What minerals are found with chromatite?+
What kind of rock does chromatite form in?+
What is chromatite used for?+
Find chromatite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
