Nantokite is a rare copper chloride mineral that typically forms as an alteration product in copper ore deposits. It is highly sensitive to humidity and will rapidly oxidize and hydrate to form green copper minerals like atacamite when exposed to air.
Is this nantokite?
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 nantokite with a known reference. Nantokite sits at Mohs 2-2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nantokite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nantokite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, gray, pale green, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or crusty coatings.
Often confused with
Nantokite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nantokite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nantokite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuCl
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 4.14 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Crusty Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Geological Study
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Copper Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find nantokite
Classic worldwide localities
- Chuquicamata Mine, Chile
- Bingham Canyon, USA
- Boliden, Sweden
- Mount Lyell, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal copper deposits country — that is the host setting where nantokite typically forms. If you start seeing cuprite, atacamite, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or crusty coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nantokite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
