Jôkokuite is a rare manganese sulfate mineral typically found in weathered hydrothermal deposits. It is best identified by its pale pink color and occurrence as a secondary mineral in manganese-rich environments, often forming as crusts or granular aggregates.
Is this jôkokuite?
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 jôkokuite with a known reference. Jôkokuite sits at Mohs 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Jôkokuite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jôkokuite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, pale pink, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular, massive, or encrustations.
Often confused with
Jôkokuite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside jôkokuite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jôkokuite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnSO₄·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.10 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, Massive, Or Encrustations
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 for small study specimens
Where rockhounds find jôkokuite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jokoku mine, Hokkaido, Japan
- Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
- Sterling Hill, New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where jôkokuite typically forms. If you start seeing rhodochrosite, pyrite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular, massive, or encrustations habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify jôkokuite?+
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Find jôkokuite on the map
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