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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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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