Mooreite is a rare hydrated manganese-zinc sulfate mineral found almost exclusively in the famous zinc mines of Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey. It typically forms thin, colorless to white tabular crystals or platy masses associated with complex zinc-manganese assemblages in metamorphic rocks.
Is this mooreite?
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 mooreite with a known reference. Mooreite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Mooreite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Mooreite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, pinkish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, platy aggregates.
Often confused with
Mooreite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside mooreite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mooreite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mg,Mn,Zn)₁₅(SO₄)₂(OH)₂₆·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Platy Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Zinc Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find mooreite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sterling Hill Mine, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA
- Franklin Mine, Franklin, New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic zinc ore deposits country — that is the host setting where mooreite typically forms. If you start seeing hancockite, hodgkinsonite, chlorophoenicite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, platy aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify mooreite?+
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Find mooreite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
