Kuliginite is an extremely rare magnesium-manganese hydroxide chloride mineral found in specific manganese skarn environments. It typically occurs as small, green tabular crystals and is known almost exclusively from the type locality in the Jakobsberg Mine, Sweden.
Is this kuliginite?
3-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 kuliginite with a known reference. Kuliginite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green.
- 3Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Kuliginite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside kuliginite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kuliginite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 3.13 g/cm³
- Colors
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {101̄1}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In cavities or veins in weakly serpentinized volcaniclastic and coherent kimberlites of the Udachnaya East kimberlite pipe, Yakutia, Russia
Where rockhounds find kuliginite
Classic worldwide localities
- Udachnaya East kimberlite pipe, Yakutia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In cavities or veins in weakly serpentinized volcaniclastic and coherent kimberlites of the Udachnaya East kimberlite pipe, Yakutia, Russia. If you start seeing iowaite, gypsum, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kuliginite?+
Where is kuliginite found?+
What rocks look like kuliginite?+
What minerals are found with kuliginite?+
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Find kuliginite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
