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, 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.
