Smamite is an extremely rare antimonate mineral typically found as small, colorless to white tabular crystals. It is primarily known from the historic Långban mine in Sweden, occurring within metamorphosed manganese-rich skarns.

Hardness

~3.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Smamite

Hardness: ~3.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

No image

Is this smamite?

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 smamite with a known reference. Smamite sits at Mohs ~3.5, 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, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.

Often confused with

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

How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-7 vs. ~3.5); streak differs, so Smamite leaves white, Stibiconite leaves light yellow; luster reads vitreous on Smamite and pearly, opaline, glassy to earthy on Stibiconite.

Compare →

Often found alongside smamite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₂Sb(OH)₄[H(AsO₄)₂](H₂O)₆
Mohs hardness: ~3.5
Density: 2.72 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Triclinic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A supergene mineral from the oxidative weathering of primary As-mineralization [native arsenic, tennantite-tetrahedrite (fahlore), arsenides of Co and Ni, löllingite and chalcopyrite]

Where rockhounds find smamite

Classic worldwide localities

Giftgrube mine, Rauenthal, Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines district, Haut-Rhin department, Grand Est, France

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A supergene mineral from the oxidative weathering of primary As-mineralization [native arsenic, tennantite-tetrahedrite (fahlore), arsenides of Co and Ni, löllingite and chalcopyrite]. If you start seeing picropharmacolite, fluckite, pharmacolite 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 smamite?+

Mohs hardness is ~3.5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white.

Where is smamite found?+

Notable localities include Giftgrube mine, Rauenthal, Sainte-Marie-Aux-Mines district, Haut-Rhin department, Grand Est, France.

Is smamite safe to handle?+

Smamite contains antimony and arsenic and calls for real care. Contains antimony, which is toxic if ingested or inhaled as dust; wash hands after handling specimens.

What rocks look like smamite?+

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

What minerals are found with smamite?+

Smamite commonly co-occurs with Picropharmacolite, Fluckite, Pharmacolite, Quartz, Calcite, Dolomite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does smamite form in?+

Where it forms: A supergene mineral from the oxidative weathering of primary As-mineralization [native arsenic, tennantite-tetrahedrite (fahlore), arsenides of Co and Ni, löllingite and chalcopyrite]. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is smamite used for?+

Smamite is used in collector.

Find smamite on the map

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