Yimengite is a rare potassium-rich oxide mineral typically found as small, black, hexagonal tabular crystals within diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes. It is primarily recognized by collectors of rare earth and oxide minerals, as it is only known from specific kimberlite occurrences in China.
Is this yimengite?
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 yimengite with a known reference. Yimengite 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. Yimengite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Yimengite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, hexagonal plates.
Often confused with
Yimengite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside yimengite
Minerals reported to co-occur with yimengite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K(Cr,Ti,Fe,Mg,Al)₁₂O₁₉
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 4.57 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Hexagonal Plates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Kimberlite
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find yimengite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fuxian, Shandong Province, China
- Kimberlite pipes of the Shandong region
Field-hunting tip
Look in kimberlite country — that is the host setting where yimengite typically forms. If you start seeing diamond, pyrope, chromite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, hexagonal plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find yimengite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
