Otavite is a rare cadmium carbonate that most notably occurs as translucent to transparent rhombohedral crystals or crusts. It is famous for its association with the Tsumeb mine in Namibia, where it forms delicate, sometimes colorful crusts on other secondary minerals.
Is this otavite?
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 otavite with a known reference. Otavite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Otavite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Otavite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, yellowish, pinkish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: rhombohedral crystals, crusts, botryoidal aggregates.
Often confused with
Otavite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Otavite and vitreous on Calcite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Otavite and vitreous on Smithsonite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Otavite and vitreous on Siderite.
Often found alongside otavite
Minerals reported to co-occur with otavite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CdCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 5.04 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Rhombohedral Crystals, Crusts, Botryoidal Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Rhombohedral
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Cadmium-bearing Hydrothermal Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail, $500-2000 cabinet
Where rockhounds find otavite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tsumeb Mine, Namibia
- Broken Hill, Australia
- Salmo, British Columbia, Canada
- Shizhuyuan, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of cadmium-bearing hydrothermal ore deposits country — that is the host setting where otavite typically forms. If you start seeing cerussite, smithsonite, malachite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a rhombohedral crystals, crusts, botryoidal aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify otavite?+
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Find otavite on the map
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