Trembathite is a rare borate mineral that belongs to the boracite group, typically occurring in evaporite deposits. It often forms pseudo-cubic crystals that are visually indistinguishable from boracite without specialized X-ray diffraction or chemical analysis.
Is this trembathite?
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 trembathite with a known reference. Trembathite sits at Mohs 7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Trembathite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Trembathite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, gray, greenish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: pseudo-cubic crystals, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Trembathite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside trembathite
Minerals reported to co-occur with trembathite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mg,Fe,Mn)₃B₇O₁₃Cl
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo-cubic Crystals, Granular, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Evaporite Sequences
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find trembathite
Classic worldwide localities
- Salt Springs, New Brunswick, Canada
- various evaporite deposits
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite sequences country — that is the host setting where trembathite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, sylvite, anhydrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pseudo-cubic crystals, granular, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find trembathite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
