Shulamitite is a rare mineral belonging to the perovskite supergroup, found primarily within pyrometamorphic combustion complexes. It typically occurs as small, black grains and is recognized for its unique chemical composition involving calcium, titanium, iron, and aluminum.
Is this shulamitite?
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 shulamitite with a known reference. Shulamitite sits at Mohs 6-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains.
Often confused with
Shulamitite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Shulamitite leaves light brown, Perovskite leaves white to grayish white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Shulamitite leaves light brown, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Shulamitite and metallic to submetallic, may be dull on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Shulamitite leaves light brown, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads adamantine to submetallic on Shulamitite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
Often found alongside shulamitite
Minerals reported to co-occur with shulamitite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃TiFeAlO₈
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 4.67 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light brown
- Luster
- Adamantine to submetallic
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral to subhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}, imperfect on {001} and {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A major accessory phase in larnite-mayenite metacarbonate rocks formed by combustion metamorphism at very high temperature (1150-1170° C) and low pressure (spurrite-merwinite facies)
Where rockhounds find shulamitite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hatrurim Formation, Hatrurim basin, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A major accessory phase in larnite-mayenite metacarbonate rocks formed by combustion metamorphism at very high temperature (1150-1170° C) and low pressure (spurrite-merwinite facies). If you start seeing larnite, f-rich mayenite, chromian spinel in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify shulamitite?+
Where is shulamitite found?+
What rocks look like shulamitite?+
What minerals are found with shulamitite?+
What kind of rock does shulamitite form in?+
What is shulamitite used for?+
Find shulamitite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
