THE MINERAL STICHTITE

  • Chemistry: Mg6Cr2CO3(OH)16-4H2O, Hydrated Magnesium Chromium Carbonate Hydroxide
  • Class: Carbonates
  • Group: Hydrotalcite
  • Uses: Very minor ore of chromium, as a mineral specimen and ornamental stone.
  • Specimens
Stichtite is a rare and unusual carbonate. It forms in mostly compact masses or micaceous aggregates and is in stark contrast to the majority of carbonates that form well shaped, large and abundant crystals. Its most common locality is near Dundas on the Island of Tasmania and in fact almost all specimens sold in rock shops and from mineral dealers have Dundas listed as the source. Stichtite has a some what dull purple-ish pink to purple-ish rose-red color. Its color, although similar in description to the other rose-red carbonates, it is actually distinctive in its own right when viewed together with the other pink carbonates. Rhodochrosite is much more redder and has white bands, sphaerocobaltite is more pinkish and stichtite is more purplish. Also adding to the distinction is the fact that the other two carbonates are more crystallized and glassy and stichtite comes from only a very few sources. Massive green serpentine is usually associated with stichtite and this green and purple-ish pink combination can make for an attractive specimen or an ornamental stone carving.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Color is a purple-ish rose pink.
  • Luster is waxy or greasy.
  • Transparency: Crystals are translucent.
  • Crystal System is trigonal.
  • Crystal Habits include mostly massive forms that are compact, micaceous or lamellar aggregates.
  • Cleavage is perfect in one direction..
  • Fracture is uneven to flaky.
  • Hardness is 1.5 - 2
  • Specific Gravity is approximately 2.1 (well below average)
  • Streak is white to shades of pink or lilac.
  • Associated Minerals are serpentine and chromite.
  • Notable Occurrences include Dundas, Tasmania, Australia; Black Lake, Quebec, Ontario and South Africa.
  • Best Field Indicators are color, habit, locality and associations.
STICHTITE specimens:
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STICHTITE specimen stc-2
$ 48.00
Dims: 1.8 x 1.3 x 0.7" (4.7 x 3.3 x 1.8 cm)
Wt: 13 g
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
A chunk of compact, lamellar Stichtite makes up this hand specimen. The Stichtite shows no definite crystal form, but does show curved, undulating layering that is not easily flaked. The pale violet color and pearly luster are standard for the specie. There is no base or host material of any kind present.
no photo
stc-2 ($ 48.00)
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
STICHTITE specimen stc-1
$ 25.00
Dims: 1.6 x 0.9 x 0.7" (4.0 x 2.2 x 1.7 cm)
Wt: 11 g
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
Veins of compact, lamellar Stichtite permeate the sparse, white matrix of this small hand specimen. The Stichtite shows no actual crystal form, though it appears to have an almost micaceous separation, and has the standard pale violet coloration and pearly luster of its specie. It is essentially opaque.
no photo
stc-1 ($ 25.00)
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
STICHTITE specimen stc-3
$ 120.00
Dims: 3.5 x 2.8 x 2.5" (8.9 x 7.1 x 6.3 cm)
Wt: 10.2 oz. (290 g)
Naw Amainthus(?), Transvaal, South Africa
This cabinet specimen consists of a mass of massive and flaky Stichtite surrounding pieces of a black igneous rock (basalt, perhaps?). There are a few spots of obvious damage in the form of hammer-marks, but the material is generally in good condition. It shows no definite crystal form, but has an uneven, micaceous appearance in a few places. Its luster in these areas is rather bright and pearly, whereas the rest of the material has a more massive appearance and almost no luster at all. Its color is a uniform lavender-violet, and it is completely opaque.
no photo
stc-3 ($120.00)
Naw Amainthus(?), Transvaal, South Africa
STICHTITE specimen stc-4
$ 60.00
Dims:3.9x3.2x1.3" (9.9x8.1x3.3 cm)
Wt: 7.4oz. (211g)
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
This is a cabinet-size specimen of bright pinkish-lavender stichtite. The stichtite is massive in form, and has a distinct "greasy" feel. The luster varies from pearly to greasy on this specimen. Associated with the stichtite is an unidentified greenish-brown mineral, also in massive form. The stichtite comprises at least 60% of this specimen
no photo
stc-4 ($ 60.00)
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
STICHTITE specimen stc-5
$ 55.00
Dims: 3.32x2.73x1.10" (8.43x6.94x2.80cm)
Wt: 5.00oz (141.6g)
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
This is a typical stichtite specimen from Dundas, Tasmania. The color is a nice purple, and both the luster and feel of this specimen is greasy. The stichtite is (of course) massive, and appears to be water-worn. There are darker areas on the rock which is almoast certainly a dark green and massive serpentine. There is no indication of crystal form on this specimen.
no photo
stc-5 ($ 55.00)
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
STICHTITE specimen stc-6
$ 45.00
Dims: 3.47x3.12x1.92" (8.80x7.94x4.88cm)
Wt: 16.4oz (464g)
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
This specimen displays three or four minerals, including crusts of purple stichtite. While most of the stichtite appears dull and opaque, there are areas where it is vitreous and translucent. The bulk of the specimen appears to be the green mineral serpentine, which to the unaided eye appears dull, but under a loupe is clearly vitreous and translucent. There is a small amount of an unidentified orange mineral, which is dull, opaque, and has a fibrous habit. Last (but not least) is another possible mineral, in that the serpentine grades into something nearly black, which I suspect is chromite, and which might comprise the bulk of the specimen.
no photo
stc-6 ($ 45.00)
Stichtite Hill, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
 

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