Klajite is a rare manganese copper arsenate, typically greenish yellow to yellowish green. Associated minerals include enargite, quartz and gypsum. It was first described from Lejtakna area, Lahóca Hill, Recsk, Mátra Mountains, northern Hungary.
Is this klajite?
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 klajite with a known reference. Klajite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish yellow, yellowish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, tabular aggregates.
Often confused with
Klajite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Klajite leaves white, Autunite leaves pale yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Klajite leaves white, Meta-autunite leaves yellow; luster reads vitreous on Klajite and pearly to dull on Meta-autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Klajite leaves white, Torbernite leaves pale green.
Often found alongside klajite
Minerals reported to co-occur with klajite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnCu₄(AsO₄)₂(AsO₃OH)₂·9H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.213 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, crusts, tabular aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Fluorescence
- Bright yellow-green under UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed by the weathering induced decomposition of enargite in material from the ore dumps of an epithermal high-sulphidation Cu-Au-As mineral deposit
Where rockhounds find klajite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lejtakna area, Lahóca Hill, Recsk, Mátra Mountains, northern Hungary
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed by the weathering induced decomposition of enargite in material from the ore dumps of an epithermal high-sulphidation Cu-Au-As mineral deposit. If you start seeing enargite, quartz, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, tabular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find klajite on the map
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