Kleberite is an iron-titanium oxide mineral typically formed by the chemical weathering and alteration of ilmenite in heavy mineral sand deposits. It is rarely found in distinct crystals and is most often identified as a constituent of the leucoxene mineral series.
Is this kleberite?
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 kleberite with a known reference. Kleberite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: beige.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy to vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Kleberite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Kleberite leaves beige, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads waxy to vitreous on Kleberite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
How to tell apart: Pseudorutile is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Kleberite leaves beige, Pseudorutile leaves reddish brown; luster reads waxy to vitreous on Kleberite and submetallic to metallic on Pseudorutile.
How to tell apart: Rutile is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Kleberite leaves beige, Rutile leaves pale brown, yellowish brown; gray, greenish black with high nb–ta; luster reads waxy to vitreous on Kleberite and adamantine to submetallic on Rutile.
Often found alongside kleberite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kleberite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeTi₆O₁₁(OH)₅
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 3.28 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Beige
- Luster
- Waxy to vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In the heavy mineral fractions of marine sand deposits
Where rockhounds find kleberite
Classic worldwide localities
- Königshain, Saxony, northeast Germany, Indonesia
- Murray Basin, southeast Australia, Indonesia
- Kalimantan, Indonesia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the heavy mineral fractions of marine sand deposits. If you start seeing mgo-rich ferrian ilmenite, pseudorutile, leucoxene in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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What rocks look like kleberite?+
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Find kleberite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
