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, 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
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Find haradaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
