Misakiite is a rare copper-manganese sulfate mineral discovered in oxidized sulfide deposits. It typically forms thin, platy, bright green crystals and crusts that are often indistinguishable from similar copper-bearing sulfates without chemical analysis.
Is this misakiite?
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 misakiite with a known reference. Misakiite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Misakiite leaves a light green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Misakiite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright green, bluish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Misakiite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Misakiite leaves light green, Posnjakite leaves pale blue.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Misakiite leaves light green, Langite leaves pale blue.
How to tell apart: Brochantite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); streak differs — Misakiite leaves light green, Brochantite leaves pale-green.
Often found alongside misakiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with misakiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₃Mn(OH)₆(SO₄)₀.5·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.84 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Sulfide Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find misakiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Misaki, Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal sulfide deposits country — that is the host setting where misakiite typically forms. If you start seeing posnjakite, gypsum, birnessite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify misakiite?+
Where is misakiite found?+
How much is misakiite worth?+
Is misakiite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like misakiite?+
What minerals are found with misakiite?+
What kind of rock does misakiite form in?+
What is misakiite used for?+
Find misakiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
