Footemineite is a rare manganese zinc arsenate mineral originally identified from the famous Foote Mine in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. It typically occurs as small, delicate, colorless or pinkish tabular crystals in association with other rare secondary manganese minerals.

Hardness

3.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrareNone family

Footemineite

Hardness: 3.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this footemineite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch footemineite with a known reference. Footemineite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Footemineite leaves a white streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Footemineite typically shows a vitreous luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white, pink.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates.

Often confused with

Footemineite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Streak differs — Footemineite leaves white, Allactite leaves light brown.

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Often found alongside footemineite

Minerals reported to co-occur with footemineite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Mn²⁺₆Zn₂Mn³⁺(AsO₄)₂(OH)₉·2H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3.5
Density: 2.7 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White Pink
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Tabular Crystals, Radiating Aggregates
Cleavage: Perfect On {010}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Granite Pegmatites
Typical price: $50-500 depending on specimen quality

Where rockhounds find footemineite

Classic worldwide localities

Foote Mine, North Carolina, USA

Field-hunting tip

Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where footemineite typically forms. If you start seeing sarkinite, allactite, spessartine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify footemineite?+

Mohs hardness is 3.5. It typically shows a vitreous luster. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white, pink.

Where is footemineite found?+

Notable localities include Foote Mine, North Carolina, USA.

How much is footemineite worth?+

Typical asking prices fall in the range of $50-500 depending on specimen quality. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.

Is footemineite safe to handle?+

It contains toxic constituents. Contains arsenic; wash hands thoroughly after handling and avoid inhaling dust. Handle with care, avoid grinding or breathing dust, and store separately.

What rocks look like footemineite?+

Footemineite is most often confused with Sarkinite, Allactite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with footemineite?+

Footemineite commonly co-occurs with sarkinite, allactite, spessartine, friedelite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does footemineite form in?+

Footemineite typically forms in granite pegmatites. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is footemineite used for?+

Footemineite is used in collector.

Find footemineite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.