Mutinaite is a very rare zeolite mineral originally discovered in Italy. It typically forms as small, tabular, colorless to white crystals within the vesicles of volcanic tuff, often requiring microscopic examination for positive identification.
Is this mutinaite?
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 mutinaite with a known reference. Mutinaite 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: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, milky white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: spherical.
Often confused with
Mutinaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside mutinaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mutinaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₃Ca₄Al₁₁Si₈₅O₁₉₂·60H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 2.14 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Spherical
- Cleavage
- {100}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In cavities in dolerite
Where rockhounds find mutinaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Adamson, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In cavities in dolerite. If you start seeing heulandite, terranovaite, tschernichite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify mutinaite?+
Where is mutinaite found?+
What rocks look like mutinaite?+
What minerals are found with mutinaite?+
What kind of rock does mutinaite form in?+
What is mutinaite used for?+
Find mutinaite on the map
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