Szmikite is a rare manganese sulfate mineral typically found as a secondary crust or efflorescence in oxidized ore deposits. It is known for its delicate, white to pinkish habit and is often associated with other sulfate minerals derived from the weathering of manganese-rich sulfides.
Is this szmikite?
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 szmikite with a known reference. Szmikite sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown white, gray white, pink, reddish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crusts, efflorescences, stalactitic.
Often confused with
Szmikite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnSO₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 3.15 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts, efflorescences, stalactitic
- Cleavage
- Good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare post-mining incrustation
Where rockhounds find szmikite
Classic worldwide localities
- Baia Sprie (Felsőbánya) and in the Borzaş gold mine, Gutâi Mountains, Romania
- Jokoku mine, southwest Hokkaido, Japan
- Silver King mine, Galena Hill, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare post-mining incrustation. If you start seeing jokokuite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crusts, efflorescences, stalactitic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find szmikite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
