Poppiite is a very rare vanadium-bearing garnet species originally described from the Poppi area in Tuscany, Italy. It typically forms small, opaque, brownish-red to dark brown dodecahedral crystals associated with contact metamorphic zones. Due to its extreme rarity, it is highly sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.

Hardness

6.5-7

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

Greenish white

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrareGarnet Group family

Poppiite

Hardness: 6.5-7
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: Greenish white
Transparency: Transparent

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Is this poppiite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch poppiite with a known reference. Poppiite sits at Mohs 6.5-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: greenish white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: brown, greenish brown.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, aggregates, radial.

Often confused with

Poppiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Andradite

Mohs 6.5-7

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Poppiite leaves greenish white, Andradite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Poppiite and adamantine to resinous, dull on Andradite.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Poppiite leaves greenish white, Goldmanite leaves white.

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Often found alongside poppiite

Minerals reported to co-occur with poppiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₂VV₂(Si₂O₇)(SiO₄)(OH,O)₂·H₂O
Mohs hardness: 6.5-7
Density: 3.36 g/cm³
Colors: Brown Greenish brown
Streak: Greenish white
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Acicular, aggregates, radial
Cleavage: {100} and {001}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In metamorphosed sedimentary manganese deposits

Where rockhounds find poppiite

Classic worldwide localities

Gambatesa mine, near Reppia, Val Graveglia, Genova, northern Italy (type locality)
Komatsu mine, Saitama Prefecture, Japan

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In metamorphosed sedimentary manganese deposits. If you start seeing roscoelite, ganophyllite, manganaxinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, aggregates, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify poppiite?+

Mohs hardness is 6.5-7. Luster: vitreous. The streak is greenish white. Common colors include brown, greenish brown.

Where is poppiite found?+

Notable localities include Gambatesa mine, near Reppia, Val Graveglia, Genova, northern Italy (type locality); Komatsu mine, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

Is poppiite safe to handle?+

Poppiite contains vanadium. Wash your hands afterwards, never grind or breathe the dust, and store it apart from specimens you handle often.

What rocks look like poppiite?+

Poppiite is most often confused with Andradite, Goldmanite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with poppiite?+

Poppiite commonly co-occurs with Roscoelite, Ganophyllite, Manganaxinite, Goldmanite, Calcite, Manganiferous calcite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does poppiite form in?+

Where it forms: In metamorphosed sedimentary manganese deposits. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is poppiite used for?+

Poppiite is used in collector.

Find poppiite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.