Morelandite is a very rare member of the apatite group characterized by its high barium and arsenic content. It typically forms as small, prismatic crystals within skarn environments and is primarily sought by systematic mineral collectors.
Is this morelandite?
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 morelandite with a known reference. Morelandite sits at Mohs 4.5, 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: greasy to vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish yellow, gray, grayish yellow, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Morelandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside morelandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with morelandite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Ba₃(AsO₄)₃Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 5.33 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Greasy to vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Poor on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- On a museum specimen from a metamorphosed manganese deposit
Where rockhounds find morelandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jakobsberg, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: On a museum specimen from a metamorphosed manganese deposit. If you start seeing hausmannite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify morelandite?+
Where is morelandite found?+
Is morelandite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like morelandite?+
What minerals are found with morelandite?+
What kind of rock does morelandite form in?+
What is morelandite used for?+
Find morelandite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
