Karibibite is a rare secondary mineral found in the oxidation zones of arsenic-rich ore deposits. It typically forms delicate, yellow, needle-like or fibrous sprays that are highly fragile and prized by micromount collectors.
Is this karibibite?
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 karibibite with a known reference. Karibibite sits at Mohs 1 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Karibibite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Karibibite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange-yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous, radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Karibibite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pharmacosiderite is the harder of the two (Mohs 2.5 vs. 1); streak differs — Karibibite leaves yellow, Pharmacosiderite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Karibibite and adamantine on Pharmacosiderite.
How to tell apart: Scorodite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1); streak differs — Karibibite leaves yellow, Scorodite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Karibibite and vitreous to sub-adamantine on Scorodite.
Often found alongside karibibite
Minerals reported to co-occur with karibibite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺₄As³⁺₃O₉(OH)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 1
- Density
- 3.51 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Fibrous, Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Arsenic-rich Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find karibibite
Classic worldwide localities
- Karibib, Namibia
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal arsenic-rich ore deposits country — that is the host setting where karibibite typically forms. If you start seeing arsenolite, claudetite, trippkeite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, fibrous, radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify karibibite?+
Where is karibibite found?+
How much is karibibite worth?+
Is karibibite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like karibibite?+
What minerals are found with karibibite?+
What kind of rock does karibibite form in?+
What is karibibite used for?+
Find karibibite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
