Jeppeite is a very rare potassium-barium titanate found primarily in the lamproite rocks of the Wolgidee Hills in Western Australia. It typically occurs as small, dark, tabular crystals or anhedral grains and is highly prized by advanced mineral collectors for its limited geographical distribution.
Is this jeppeite?
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 jeppeite with a known reference. Jeppeite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic.
Often confused with
Jeppeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Jeppeite leaves pale brown, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads submetallic on Jeppeite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
How to tell apart: Priderite is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 5-6); streak differs, so Jeppeite leaves pale brown, Priderite leaves gray; luster reads submetallic on Jeppeite and adamantine on Priderite.
Often found alongside jeppeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jeppeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (K,Ba)₂(Ti,Fe)₆O₁₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 3.94 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}; good on {201}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In some abundance, in a large weathered lamproite plug
Where rockhounds find jeppeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wolgidee Hills, West Kimberley district, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In some abundance, in a large weathered lamproite plug. If you start seeing priderite, celadonite, chlorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify jeppeite?+
Where is jeppeite found?+
What rocks look like jeppeite?+
What minerals are found with jeppeite?+
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Find jeppeite on the map
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