Sharyginite is an extremely rare calcium-titanium-iron oxide found primarily in pyrometamorphic complexes where limestone and bituminous rocks have interacted. It typically occurs as small, dark, anhedral grains within mineral-rich high-temperature metamorphic assemblages. Due to its discovery in specific, restricted geologic environments like the Hatrurim Formation, it is primarily a target for advanced mineralogists and systematic collection.
Is this sharyginite?
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 sharyginite with a known reference. Sharyginite sits at Mohs ~5.5-6, 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: sub-metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Sharyginite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sharyginite leaves brown, Brownmillerite leaves light brown; luster reads sub-metallic on Sharyginite and submetallic on Brownmillerite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sharyginite leaves brown, Srebrodolskite leaves grayish brown; luster reads sub-metallic on Sharyginite and adamantine, metallic in aggregates on Srebrodolskite.
Often found alongside sharyginite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sharyginite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃TiFe₂O₈
- Mohs hardness
- ~5.5-6
- Density
- 3.943 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Sub-metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}; imperfect on {001} and {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- pyrometamorphic rocks
Where rockhounds find sharyginite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hatrurim Formation, Israel
- Buhovo, Bulgaria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: pyrometamorphic rocks. If you start seeing fluorellestadite, cuspidine, brownmillerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sharyginite?+
Where is sharyginite found?+
What rocks look like sharyginite?+
What minerals are found with sharyginite?+
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Find sharyginite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
