Yafsoanite is a rare tellurite mineral belonging to the garnet structural group, typically occurring as small dodecahedral crystals. It is primarily found in unique, tellurium-rich hydrothermal environments and is highly sought after by advanced collectors for its complex chemistry.
Is this yafsoanite?
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 yafsoanite with a known reference. Yafsoanite sits at Mohs ~6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light brown, dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Yafsoanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside yafsoanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with yafsoanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃Te₂Zn₃O₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~6
- Density
- 5.40-5.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral crystals, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Very rare in a tellurium-bearing gold quartz deposit in dolomite–calcite (Kuranakh deposit, Russia); in the oxidized zone of a hydrothermal ore deposit (Empire mine, Arizona, USA)
Where rockhounds find yafsoanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Empire mine, Tombstone, Cochise Co. Arizona, USA
- Kuranakh gold deposit, near Aldan, southern Sakha, Russia
- Moctezuma (Bambolla) mine, 12 km south of Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Very rare in a tellurium-bearing gold quartz deposit in dolomite–calcite (Kuranakh deposit, Russia); in the oxidized zone of a hydrothermal ore deposit (Empire mine, Arizona, USA). If you start seeing gold, tiemannite, naumannite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify yafsoanite?+
Where is yafsoanite found?+
Is yafsoanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like yafsoanite?+
What minerals are found with yafsoanite?+
What kind of rock does yafsoanite form in?+
What is yafsoanite used for?+
Find yafsoanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
