Malayaite is a rare tin-bearing calcium silicate that belongs to the titanite group. It is typically found in contact metamorphic skarn zones and is highly prized by collectors for its rare occurrence and resemblance to titanite.
Is this malayaite?
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 malayaite with a known reference. Malayaite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, 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: resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, greenish gray, white, light yellow, orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, wedge shaped.
Often confused with
Malayaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Titanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3.5-4); luster reads resinous on Malayaite and adamantine to resinous on Titanite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads resinous on Malayaite and vitreous to adamantine on Scheelite.
Often found alongside malayaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with malayaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaSnSiO₅
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.3 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, wedge shaped
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {110}
- Fluorescence
- Bright yellowish green under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- In tin-rich contact metamorphic skarn deposits, probably a hydrothermal alteration product of cassiterite or other tin-bearing minerals
Where rockhounds find malayaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mesa Grande district, San Diego Co., California, USA
- Sungei Lah Valley, Chenderiang, Perak State, and other locations in Malaya, Malaysia
- Piniok, Thailand
- Toroku and Mitate mines, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan
- Sampo mine, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
- Hoei mine, Oita Prefecture, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In tin-rich contact metamorphic skarn deposits, probably a hydrothermal alteration product of cassiterite or other tin-bearing minerals. If you start seeing cassiterite, quartz, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, wedge shaped. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find malayaite on the map
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