Kittatinnyite is a very rare mineral found almost exclusively in the Franklin Mining District of New Jersey. It typically occurs as small, delicate fibrous or radiating crusts and aggregates on calcite-rich ore. Because of its extreme scarcity and limited localities, it is highly sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.
Is this kittatinnyite?
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 kittatinnyite with a known reference. Kittatinnyite sits at Mohs ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: platy, thin.
Often confused with
Kittatinnyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside kittatinnyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kittatinnyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂MnMn₂(SiO₄)₂(OH)₄·9H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 2.61 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy, thin
- Cleavage
- {0001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral coating fractures in a metamorphosed stratiform zinc deposit
Where rockhounds find kittatinnyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral coating fractures in a metamorphosed stratiform zinc deposit. If you start seeing bostwickite, calcite, franklinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, thin. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kittatinnyite?+
Where is kittatinnyite found?+
What rocks look like kittatinnyite?+
What minerals are found with kittatinnyite?+
What kind of rock does kittatinnyite form in?+
What is kittatinnyite used for?+
Find kittatinnyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
