Merrihueite is a rare member of the osumilite group occurring almost exclusively within meteoritic samples. It typically appears as tiny blue to greenish grains embedded in the matrix of stony-iron or chondritic meteorites alongside minerals like olivine and enstatite.
Is this merrihueite?
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 merrihueite with a known reference. Merrihueite sits at Mohs 5-6, 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: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Merrihueite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside merrihueite
Minerals reported to co-occur with merrihueite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (K,Na)₂(Fe,Mg)₅Si₁₂O₃₀
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 2.87 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Rare, in a few chondules of a chondrite, as inclusions in clinopyroxenes
Where rockhounds find merrihueite
Classic worldwide localities
- In the MezÄo-Madaras chondritic meteorite (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Rare, in a few chondules of a chondrite, as inclusions in clinopyroxenes. If you start seeing clinoenstatite, fayalitic olivine, nickel-iron in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify merrihueite?+
Where is merrihueite found?+
What rocks look like merrihueite?+
What minerals are found with merrihueite?+
What kind of rock does merrihueite form in?+
What is merrihueite used for?+
Find merrihueite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
