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, so Misakiite leaves light green, Posnjakite leaves pale blue.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, so 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, 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
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Find misakiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
