Haradaite is a rare strontium vanadium silicate typically found as small, vibrant emerald-green tabular crystals. It is most famous for its occurrences in Japanese manganese mines and occasionally within the contact metamorphic zones of other deposits.
Is this haradaite?
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 haradaite with a known reference. Haradaite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Haradaite leaves a pale green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Haradaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: emerald green, yellowish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Haradaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside haradaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with haradaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SrVSi₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Micaceous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganiferous Silicate Ore Bodies, Metamorphosed Bedded Manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find haradaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tanohata mine, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
- Jeffrey mine, Quebec, Canada
- Franklin, New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganiferous silicate ore bodies, metamorphosed bedded manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where haradaite typically forms. If you start seeing baryte, calcite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, micaceous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify haradaite?+
Where is haradaite found?+
How much is haradaite worth?+
What rocks look like haradaite?+
What minerals are found with haradaite?+
What kind of rock does haradaite form in?+
What is haradaite used for?+
Find haradaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
