Oxykinoshitalite is an extremely rare barium-rich mica that occurs primarily in skarn environments. It is visually similar to other dark micas and typically presents as small, platy crystals in metamorphic rocks.
Is this oxykinoshitalite?
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 oxykinoshitalite with a known reference. Oxykinoshitalite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy.
Often confused with
Oxykinoshitalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Oxykinoshitalite leaves brown, Phlogopite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Oxykinoshitalite and pearly to submetallic on cleavage on Phlogopite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Oxykinoshitalite leaves brown, Biotite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Oxykinoshitalite and splendent to submetallic, vitreous, pearly on cleavage on Biotite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Oxykinoshitalite leaves brown, Kinoshitalite leaves yellow white.
Often found alongside oxykinoshitalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with oxykinoshitalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba(Mg₂Ti)(Si₂Al₂)O₁₀(O₂)
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Interstitial in an olivine nephelinite volcanic rock
Where rockhounds find oxykinoshitalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fernando de Noronha Island, Pernambuco, Brazil and from the Hyblean Plateau, Sicily, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Interstitial in an olivine nephelinite volcanic rock. If you start seeing olivine, clinopyroxene, fe-ti oxide in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify oxykinoshitalite?+
Where is oxykinoshitalite found?+
What rocks look like oxykinoshitalite?+
What minerals are found with oxykinoshitalite?+
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Find oxykinoshitalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
