Scacchite is a very rare, highly deliquescent manganese chloride mineral found primarily in volcanic fumaroles. It typically forms thin crusts or small granular crystals that will dissolve if exposed to atmospheric moisture, requiring specialized storage conditions for any collector.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrare

Scacchite

Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Semitransparent

No image

Is this scacchite?

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 scacchite with a known reference. Scacchite 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: colorless, rose red, brown, brownish red.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: crusts, granular, crystalline masses.

Often confused with

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

Often found alongside scacchite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: MnCl₂
Mohs hardness: 2
Density: 2.98 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Rose red Brown Brownish red
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Crusts, granular, crystalline masses
Cleavage: {0001}, perfect, inferred from crystal structure
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A product of fumarolic activity

Where rockhounds find scacchite

Classic worldwide localities

Vesuvius, Campania, Italy

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A product of fumarolic activity. If you start seeing halite, sylvite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crusts, granular, crystalline masses. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify scacchite?+

Mohs hardness is 2. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, rose red, brown, brownish red.

Where is scacchite found?+

Notable localities include Vesuvius, Campania, Italy.

Is scacchite safe to handle?+

Contains manganese and chlorides; soluble in water and potentially irritating to skin or if ingested. Should be stored in an airtight container due to extreme deliquescence.

What rocks look like scacchite?+

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

What minerals are found with scacchite?+

Scacchite commonly co-occurs with Halite, Sylvite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does scacchite form in?+

Where it forms: A product of fumarolic activity. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is scacchite used for?+

Scacchite is used in collector.

Find scacchite on the map

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