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 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Jeppeite leaves a brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jeppeite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Jeppeite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jeppeite leaves brown, Manaccanite leaves black.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jeppeite leaves brown, Priderite leaves black; luster reads submetallic on Jeppeite and metallic 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
- 6
- Density
- 4.21 g/cm³
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Lamproite
- Typical price
- Expensive due to extreme rarity
Where rockhounds find jeppeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wolgidee Hills, Western Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in lamproite country — that is the host setting where jeppeite typically forms. If you start seeing priderite, wadeite, phlogopite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify jeppeite?+
Where is jeppeite found?+
How much is jeppeite worth?+
What rocks look like jeppeite?+
What minerals are found with jeppeite?+
What kind of rock does jeppeite form in?+
What is jeppeite used for?+
Find jeppeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
