Tungusite is a rare phyllosilicate mineral typically found in the amygdaloidal cavities of basaltic rocks. It is characterized by its delicate, platy to foliated habit and pearly luster, often forming radiating clusters that resemble small rosettes.
Is this tungusite?
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 tungusite with a known reference. Tungusite sits at Mohs 2-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tungusite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tungusite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish-white, pale green, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, foliated, rosettes.
Often confused with
Tungusite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly on Tungusite and dull on Celadonite.
How to tell apart: Prehnite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads pearly on Tungusite and vitreous on Prehnite.
Often found alongside tungusite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tungusite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Fe²⁺₃(Si₄O₁₀)(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Foliated, Rosettes
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Trap Rock (basalt) Cavities
- Typical price
- $20-100 for small samples
Where rockhounds find tungusite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lower Tunguska River, Siberia, Russia
- Khabarovsk Krai, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in trap rock (basalt) cavities country — that is the host setting where tungusite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, zeolites, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, foliated, rosettes habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tungusite?+
Where is tungusite found?+
How much is tungusite worth?+
What rocks look like tungusite?+
What minerals are found with tungusite?+
What kind of rock does tungusite form in?+
What is tungusite used for?+
Find tungusite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
