Hoelite is an extremely rare organic mineral composed of anthraquinone. It is typically found forming as a sublimate on the surface of burning coal seams, often appearing as delicate, needle-like yellow crystals.
Is this hoelite?
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 hoelite with a known reference. Hoelite sits at Mohs 1-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hoelite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hoelite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, bright yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular needles, thin plates.
Often confused with
Hoelite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hoelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hoelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- C₁₄H₈O₂
- Mohs hardness
- 1-2
- Density
- 1.24 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Needles, Thin Plates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Burning Coal Seams
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find hoelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Spitsbergen, Norway
- Kuznetsk Basin, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in burning coal seams country, the host setting where hoelite typically forms. If you start seeing coal in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular needles, thin plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hoelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
