Sclarite is a rare zinc carbonate that forms colorless to grayish white crystals. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 1988. It was first described from Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA.

Hardness

3-4

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Sclarite

Hardness: 3-4
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

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Is this sclarite?

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 sclarite with a known reference. Sclarite sits at Mohs 3-4, 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.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crystals.

Often confused with

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

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sclarite leaves white, Jarosewichite leaves reddish orange; luster reads vitreous on Sclarite and subvitreous on fractured surfaces on Jarosewichite.

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Often found alongside sclarite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Zn₇(CO₃)₂(OH)₁₀
Mohs hardness: 3-4
Density: 3.51 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Crystals
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Very rare on a museum specimen, in a veinlet possibly of hydrothermal origin, from a metamorphosed stratiform zinc orebody

Where rockhounds find sclarite

Classic worldwide localities

Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Very rare on a museum specimen, in a veinlet possibly of hydrothermal origin, from a metamorphosed stratiform zinc orebody. If you start seeing gageite, leucophoenicite, chlorophoenicite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify sclarite?+

Mohs hardness is 3-4. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless.

Where is sclarite found?+

Notable localities include Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA.

What rocks look like sclarite?+

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

What minerals are found with sclarite?+

Sclarite commonly co-occurs with Gageite, Leucophoenicite, Chlorophoenicite, Rhodochrosite, Willemite, Zincite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does sclarite form in?+

Where it forms: Very rare on a museum specimen, in a veinlet possibly of hydrothermal origin, from a metamorphosed stratiform zinc orebody. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is sclarite used for?+

Sclarite is used in collector.

Find sclarite on the map

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