Teschemacherite is an ammonium bicarbonate mineral primarily found in guano deposits where nitrogen-rich organic matter decomposes. It typically forms delicate, colorless to white tabular crystals or powdery efflorescent crusts that are highly sensitive to moisture and heat, requiring careful storage in airtight containers to prevent dehydration.
Is this teschemacherite?
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 teschemacherite with a known reference. Teschemacherite 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: white, colorless, yellowish, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, efflorescent crusts, granular masses.
Often confused with
Teschemacherite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside teschemacherite
Minerals reported to co-occur with teschemacherite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (NH₄)HCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 1.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, efflorescent crusts, granular masses
- Cleavage
- On {110}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Rarely found in guano deposits
Where rockhounds find teschemacherite
Classic worldwide localities
- Saldanha Bay, Cape Province, South Africa
- Chincha and Guañape Islands, off the coast of Peru
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Rarely found in guano deposits. If you start seeing guano minerals, gypsum, sulfur in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, efflorescent crusts, granular masses. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify teschemacherite?+
Where is teschemacherite found?+
What rocks look like teschemacherite?+
What minerals are found with teschemacherite?+
What kind of rock does teschemacherite form in?+
What is teschemacherite used for?+
Find teschemacherite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
