Kampfite is an extremely rare barium silicate mineral primarily known from the metamorphic sanbornite deposits in California. It typically occurs as small, transparent, platy or tabular crystals embedded in quartz-rich matrices.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrare

Kampfite

Hardness: 3
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

Is this kampfite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch kampfite with a known reference. Kampfite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: light blue gray.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: irregular grains.

Often confused with

Kampfite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Kampfite and subvitreous, pearly on cleavages on Walstromite.

Often found alongside kampfite

Minerals reported to co-occur with kampfite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ba₁₂(Si₁₁Al₅)O₃₁(CO₃)₈Cl₅
Mohs hardness: 3
Density: 3.809 g/cm³
Colors: Light blue gray
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Irregular grains
Cleavage: Perfect, {001}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In quartz-sanbornite bodies in contact metamorphic gneiss near a granodiorite pluton

Where rockhounds find kampfite

Classic worldwide localities

Esquire no. 1 claim, Rush Creek, eastern Fresno County, California, USA

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In quartz-sanbornite bodies in contact metamorphic gneiss near a granodiorite pluton. If you start seeing celsian, fresnoite, macdonaldite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify kampfite?+

Mohs hardness is 3. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include light blue gray.

Where is kampfite found?+

Notable localities include Esquire no. 1 claim, Rush Creek, eastern Fresno County, California, USA.

What rocks look like kampfite?+

Kampfite is most often confused with Walstromite, Fresnoite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with kampfite?+

Kampfite commonly co-occurs with Celsian, Fresnoite, Macdonaldite, Titantaramellite, Traskite, Witherite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does kampfite form in?+

Where it forms: In quartz-sanbornite bodies in contact metamorphic gneiss near a granodiorite pluton. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is kampfite used for?+

Kampfite is used in collector.

Find kampfite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.