Flinteite is a rare potassium zinc halide that forms prismatic crystals. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2014. It was first described from the First scoria cone and the Arsenatnaya and Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumaroles, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia.
Is this flinteite?
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 flinteite with a known reference. Flinteite 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: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright greenish yellow, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Flinteite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside flinteite
Minerals reported to co-occur with flinteite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂ZnCl₄
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 2.49 g/cm³
- Colors
- Bright greenish yellowColorless
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct in one direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed as sublimates on basaltic scoria around active volcanic fumaroles, probably as the result of a phase transition when cooling after the extraction of crystals of its protophase
Where rockhounds find flinteite
Classic worldwide localities
- First scoria cone and the Arsenatnaya and Glavnaya Tenoritovaya fumaroles, Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed as sublimates on basaltic scoria around active volcanic fumaroles, probably as the result of a phase transition when cooling after the extraction of crystals of its protophase. If you start seeing langbeinite, calciolangbeinite, aphthitalite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify flinteite?+
Where is flinteite found?+
What rocks look like flinteite?+
What minerals are found with flinteite?+
What kind of rock does flinteite form in?+
What is flinteite used for?+
Find flinteite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
