Yeatmanite is a rare manganese zinc silicate-antimonate mineral found primarily in the famous Franklin District of New Jersey. It typically occurs as reddish-brown tabular crystals or granular masses associated with other rare zinc-manganese species in metamorphic limestone.
Is this yeatmanite?
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 yeatmanite with a known reference. Yeatmanite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Yeatmanite leaves a yellowish-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Yeatmanite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish-brown, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Yeatmanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Willemite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Yeatmanite leaves yellowish-brown, Willemite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Franklinite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Yeatmanite leaves yellowish-brown, Franklinite leaves reddish-brown; luster reads vitreous on Yeatmanite and metallic on Franklinite.
Often found alongside yeatmanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with yeatmanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mn,Zn)₁₆Sb₂Si₄O₂₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.82 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Zinc Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail, $500+ cabinet
Where rockhounds find yeatmanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Franklin Mine, New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed zinc ore deposits country, the host setting where yeatmanite typically forms. If you start seeing willemite, franklinite, hodgkinsonite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find yeatmanite on the map
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