Gananite is an extremely rare bismuth antimony oxide mineral known primarily from its type locality in Gana, China. It typically occurs as small, pale yellow octahedral crystals or in massive form within hydrothermal vein environments. Collectors prize it for its unique chemistry and extreme scarcity.
Is this gananite?
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 gananite with a known reference. Gananite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gananite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gananite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Gananite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sillimanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 3); luster reads resinous on Gananite and vitreous on Sillimanite.
How to tell apart: Bismite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3); luster reads resinous on Gananite and adamantine on Bismite.
Often found alongside gananite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gananite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₄Sb₃O₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 4.56 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find gananite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gana, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where gananite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, muscovite, bismuthinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gananite on the map
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