Kalininite is a rare zinc chromium sulfide belonging to the spinel group. It typically occurs as small, sharp octahedral crystals embedded in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, most famously found in the mercury-antimony deposits of Kyrgyzstan.
Is this kalininite?
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 kalininite with a known reference. Kalininite sits at Mohs 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kalininite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kalininite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Kalininite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Chromite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Kalininite leaves black, Chromite leaves dark brown; luster reads metallic on Kalininite and submetallic on Chromite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Kalininite leaves black, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads metallic on Kalininite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
Often found alongside kalininite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kalininite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ZnCr₂S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.57 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Antimony-mercury Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find kalininite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khaidarkan deposit, Kyrgyzstan
- Upper Silesia, Poland
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal antimony-mercury deposits country — that is the host setting where kalininite typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, cinnabar, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kalininite on the map
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