Stichtite is a soft, vibrant lilac to purple mineral typically found in serpentinite rocks as a secondary alteration product of chromite. It is prized by lapidary enthusiasts for its ability to take a polish and is frequently associated with green serpentine in the attractive rock known as Stichtite-in-Serpentine.
Is this stichtite?
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 stichtite with a known reference. Stichtite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: very pale lilac to white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: waxy to resinous, somewhat pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lilac, light violet, pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: encrustations, micaceous, nodular.
Often confused with
Stichtite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Stichtite leaves very pale lilac to white, Lepidolite leaves white; luster reads waxy to resinous, somewhat pearly on Stichtite and pearly to vitreous on Lepidolite.
How to tell apart: Sugilite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Stichtite leaves very pale lilac to white, Sugilite leaves white; luster reads waxy to resinous, somewhat pearly on Stichtite and vitreous on Sugilite.
Often found alongside stichtite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stichtite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₆Cr₂(OH)₁₆CO₃·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 2.16 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Very pale lilac to white
- Luster
- Waxy to resinous, somewhat pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations, micaceous, nodular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary, Decorative
- Host rock
- An alteration product of chromite in serpentinite
Where rockhounds find stichtite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stichtite Hill, near the Adelaide mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
- Kaapsehoop asbestos mine, Kaapse Hoop, and the New Amianthus asbestos mine, Stolzburg, Barberton district, Transvaal, South Africa
- Darwendale Farm, Darwendale, Zimbabwe
- Bou Offroich, near Bou Azzer, Morocco
- Cunningsburgh, Shetland Islands, Scotland
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of chromite in serpentinite. If you start seeing barbertonite, chromite, antigorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations, micaceous, nodular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify stichtite?+
Where is stichtite found?+
What rocks look like stichtite?+
What minerals are found with stichtite?+
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What is stichtite used for?+
Find stichtite on the map
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