Toturite is a rare tin-bearing garnet species characterized by its dark, often opaque to translucent appearance. It is typically found in skarn deposits, forming small, well-defined dodecahedral crystals associated with iron-rich minerals.
Is this toturite?
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 toturite with a known reference. Toturite sits at Mohs 6-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Toturite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Toturite typically shows a subadamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Toturite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside toturite
Minerals reported to co-occur with toturite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃Sn₂Fe₂SiO₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 3.8-3.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Skarn
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find toturite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sakha Republic, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in skarn country, the host setting where toturite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, magnetite, pyroxene in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find toturite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
