Ernstburkeite is a rare organic mineral typically found as small, colorless tabular crystals. It is a polycyclic diterpenoid mineral often associated with deposits of amber. Because of its rarity and organic composition, it is highly prized by specialized mineral collectors.
Is this ernstburkeite?
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 ernstburkeite with a known reference. Ernstburkeite sits at Mohs <2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, aggregates.
Often confused with
Ernstburkeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside ernstburkeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ernstburkeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg(CH₃SO₃)₂·12H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- <2
- Density
- 1.364 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Waxy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, aggregates
- Cleavage
- None; good parting
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As solid inclusions in an ice core (from a depth of 576.5 m), presumably formed by the fixation of CH3SO3H on alkaline particles of marine or continental origin during long-range aerosol transport to the polar region
Where rockhounds find ernstburkeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Beneath the Dome Fuji station, East Antarctica, near the summit of the eastern Dronning Maud Land plateau
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As solid inclusions in an ice core (from a depth of 576.5 m), presumably formed by the fixation of CH3SO3H on alkaline particles of marine or continental origin during long-range aerosol transport to the polar region. If you start seeing gypsum, ice in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify ernstburkeite?+
Where is ernstburkeite found?+
What rocks look like ernstburkeite?+
What minerals are found with ernstburkeite?+
What kind of rock does ernstburkeite form in?+
What is ernstburkeite used for?+
Find ernstburkeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
