Traskite is a rare barium iron titanium silicate mineral discovered in the sanbornite deposits of California. It typically appears as attractive, dark brown to reddish-brown tabular or platy crystals often associated with other rare barium minerals. Collectors prize it as a representative of complex barium-rich mineral assemblages found in high-grade metamorphic environments.
Is this traskite?
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 traskite with a known reference. Traskite sits at Mohs 4-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Traskite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Traskite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular, massive.
Often confused with
Traskite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside traskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with traskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₉FeTi₂Si₁₂O₃₆(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 3.37 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Tabular, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Barium-rich Rocks in Contact Zones
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find traskite
Classic worldwide localities
- Big Creek, Fresno County, California, USA
- Rush Creek, Fresno County, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed barium-rich rocks in contact zones country — that is the host setting where traskite typically forms. If you start seeing fresnoite, walstromite, sanbornite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, tabular, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find traskite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
