Tokyoite is a rare barium manganese arsenate chromate mineral that typically forms as small, attractive tabular crystals in oxidized manganese deposits. It is most recognized for its characteristic yellow-green color and is highly prized by systematic mineral collectors. Due to its arsenic content, it should be handled with standard precautions and stored carefully.
Is this tokyoite?
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 tokyoite with a known reference. Tokyoite sits at Mohs 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tokyoite leaves a yellowish streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tokyoite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-green, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Tokyoite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Tokyoite leaves yellowish, Hidalgoite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Tokyoite leaves yellowish, Bayldonite leaves pale green; luster reads vitreous on Tokyoite and vitreous to greasy on Bayldonite.
Often found alongside tokyoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tokyoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂Mn³⁺(AsO₄)(CrO₄)(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 4.96 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find tokyoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kurose mine, Japan
- Hagendorf-Pleystein, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where tokyoite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, barite, manganese oxides in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tokyoite on the map
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