Hongheite is a rare boron-bearing silicate mineral belonging to the vesuvianite group. It is typically identified by its dark, prismatic crystals occurring in skarn environments, often requiring chemical analysis to distinguish definitively from other members of the vesuvianite group.
Is this hongheite?
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 hongheite with a known reference. Hongheite sits at Mohs 6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hongheite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hongheite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, black, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Hongheite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hongheite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hongheite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,REE,Na)₁₉(Al,Fe,Mg,Mn)₁₃(B,Al,Si)₅Si₁₈O₆₉(O,OH,F)₁₀
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Skarn
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find hongheite
Classic worldwide localities
- Honghe, Yunnan Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in skarn country — that is the host setting where hongheite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, diopside, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hongheite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
