Marklite is a rare copper carbonate. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2015. It was first described from dumps of the Friedrich-Christian mine, Black Forest Mts. (Schwarzwald), Baden-Würtenberg, Germany.
Is this marklite?
4-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 marklite with a known reference. Marklite sits at Mohs 3-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellowish, greenish.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, prismatic, granular.
Often confused with
Marklite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Marklite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3-3.5 vs. 1.5-2); luster reads vitreous on Marklite and subvitreous, pearly on {010} cleavages, silky if fibrous on Gypsum.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Marklite and pearly on {010}, vitreous to greasy on {001}; vitreous on {100} on Anhydrite.
Often found alongside marklite
Minerals reported to co-occur with marklite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₅(CO₃)₂(OH)₆·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, prismatic, granular
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- metamorphosed manganese ore deposits
Where rockhounds find marklite
Classic worldwide localities
- Friedrich-Christian mine, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: metamorphosed manganese ore deposits. If you start seeing hausmannite, baryte, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, prismatic, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify marklite?+
Where is marklite found?+
Is marklite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like marklite?+
What minerals are found with marklite?+
What kind of rock does marklite form in?+
What is marklite used for?+
Find marklite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
