Makarochkinite is an extremely rare silicate mineral belonging to the sapphirine supergroup. It is primarily found as anhedral grains within syenite pegmatites in the Ilmen Mountains of the southern Urals, Russia.
Is this makarochkinite?
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 makarochkinite with a known reference. Makarochkinite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brownish.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: equant grains.
Often confused with
Makarochkinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sapphirine is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 5.5-6); streak differs, so Makarochkinite leaves brownish, Sapphirine leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Makarochkinite leaves brownish, Aenigmatite leaves reddish brown.
Often found alongside makarochkinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with makarochkinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄[Fe₈Fe₂Ti₂]O₄[Si₈Be₂Al₂O₃₆]
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.93 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Equant grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Occurs in a granitic pegmatite near Lake Ishkul
Where rockhounds find makarochkinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ilmen Mountains (Southern Urals), Ilmen State Reserve, Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Occurs in a granitic pegmatite near Lake Ishkul. If you start seeing microcline, albite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: equant grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify makarochkinite?+
Where is makarochkinite found?+
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What rocks look like makarochkinite?+
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Find makarochkinite on the map
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