Kinoshitalite is a rare barium-rich mica that typically forms as small, platy, micaceous crystals in manganese-rich metamorphic environments. It is highly valued by mineral collectors for its unique chemistry and association with rare manganese minerals. Collectors should look for its characteristic yellowish to brownish color and perfect micaceous cleavage in skarn assemblages.
Is this kinoshitalite?
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 kinoshitalite with a known reference. Kinoshitalite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow brown, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: scaly.
Often confused with
Kinoshitalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kinoshitalite leaves yellow white, Phlogopite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Kinoshitalite and pearly to submetallic on cleavage on Phlogopite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kinoshitalite leaves yellow white, Biotite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Kinoshitalite and splendent to submetallic, vitreous, pearly on cleavage on Biotite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kinoshitalite leaves yellow white, Oxykinoshitalite leaves brown.
Often found alongside kinoshitalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kinoshitalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaMg₃(Si₂Al₂)O₁₀(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 3.30 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Scaly
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hausmannite-tephroite ore (Noda-Tamagawa mine, Japan); in manganese-rich rocks invaded by silicic pegmatite and carbonate veins (Netra, India)
Where rockhounds find kinoshitalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Trumbull Peak, near Incline, Mariposa Co., California, USA
- Noda-Tamagawa mine, Iwate Prefecture, and at Hokkejino, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
- Netra, Balaghat district, Madhya Pradesh, India
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hausmannite-tephroite ore (Noda-Tamagawa mine, Japan); in manganese-rich rocks invaded by silicic pegmatite and carbonate veins (Netra, India). If you start seeing hausmannite, tephroite, celsian in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: scaly. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kinoshitalite?+
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What rocks look like kinoshitalite?+
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Find kinoshitalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
