Saranchinaite is a very rare copper sulfate mineral discovered in the volcanic fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano. It typically occurs as small, light-blue to nearly white tabular crystals formed through high-temperature volcanic gas sublimation.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Saranchinaite

Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

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Is this saranchinaite?

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 saranchinaite with a known reference. Saranchinaite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: 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: nearly white, sky-blue.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.

Often confused with

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

mineral

Euchlorine

Mohs 3

How to tell apart: Euchlorine is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); streak differs, so Saranchinaite leaves white, Euchlorine leaves pistachio green.

How to tell apart: Chalcocyanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2).

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Often found alongside saranchinaite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Na₂Cu(SO₄)₂
Mohs hardness: 2
Density: 2.937 g/cm³
Colors: Nearly whiteSky-blue
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A sublimate from volcanic gases with temperature ~600 °C at a fumarole

Where rockhounds find saranchinaite

Classic worldwide localities

Saranchinaitovaya fumarole, Naboko Scoria cone, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Far-Eastern Region, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A sublimate from volcanic gases with temperature ~600 °C at a fumarole. If you start seeing euchlorine, anhydrite, itelmenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify saranchinaite?+

Mohs hardness is 2. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include nearly white, sky-blue.

Where is saranchinaite found?+

Notable localities include Saranchinaitovaya fumarole, Naboko Scoria cone, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Far-Eastern Region, Russia.

Is saranchinaite safe to handle?+

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

What rocks look like saranchinaite?+

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

What minerals are found with saranchinaite?+

Saranchinaite commonly co-occurs with Euchlorine, Anhydrite, Itelmenite, Hermannjahnite, Chalcocyanite, Thénardite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does saranchinaite form in?+

Where it forms: A sublimate from volcanic gases with temperature ~600 °C at a fumarole. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is saranchinaite used for?+

Saranchinaite is used in collector.

Find saranchinaite on the map

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