Muskoxite is a rare hydrated magnesium iron hydroxide mineral first identified in the Muskox Intrusion of Nunavut, Canada. It typically occurs as soft, brownish earthy crusts or fillings within serpentinized ultramafic rocks. Due to its obscure nature, it is primarily sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.
Is this muskoxite?
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 muskoxite with a known reference. Muskoxite sits at Mohs 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Muskoxite leaves a yellowish-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Muskoxite typically shows a earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, yellowish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: fine-grained aggregates, crusts, or coatings.
Often confused with
Muskoxite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Iron Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs — Muskoxite leaves yellowish-brown, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads earthy on Muskoxite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Limonite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads earthy on Muskoxite and submetallic to earthy on Limonite.
Often found alongside muskoxite
Minerals reported to co-occur with muskoxite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₇Fe³⁺₂(OH)₁₈·4.5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.8-3.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-brown
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Fine-grained Aggregates, Crusts, Or Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Rocks
- Typical price
- $20-100 for small study specimens
Where rockhounds find muskoxite
Classic worldwide localities
- Muskox Intrusion, Nunavut, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic rocks country — that is the host setting where muskoxite typically forms. If you start seeing goethite, magnetite, serpentine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fine-grained aggregates, crusts, or coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find muskoxite on the map
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