Cahnite
A variety of Minerals
What is Cahnite?
Cahnite (Cahnit in German, Cahnita in Spanish, Канит in Russian) is a brittle white or colorless mineral that has perfect cleavage and is usually transparent. It usually forms tetragonal-shaped crystals and it has a hardness of 3 mohs. Cahnite was discovered in the year 1921. It was named Cahnite to honor Lazard Cahn (1865–1940), who was a mineral collector and dealer. It is usually found in the Franklin Mine, in Franklin, New Jersey. Until the year 2002, when a sample of cahnite was found in Japan, that was the only known place that cahnite was located. The geological environment that it occurs in is in pegmatites cutting a changed zinc orebody. The chemical formula for cahnite is Ca2BAsO44. It is made up of 26.91% calcium, 3.63% boron, 25.15% arsenic, 1.35% hydrogen, and 42.96% oxygen. It has a molecular weight of 297.91 grams. Cahnite is not radioactive. Cahnite is associated with these other minerals: willemite, rhodonite, pyrochroite, hedyphane, datolite, and baryte.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Cahnite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Colorless to white, also golden brown; colourless in transmitted light.
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3
- Rock tumbling
- Not recommended
- Density
- 3.22 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- Ca2B(OH)4
- Elements
- As, B, Ca, H, O
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Cahnite FAQs
How do I identify Cahnite?
Cahnite can be identified by its hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, Colorless to white color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Cahnite?
Cahnite typically appears in Colorless to white, also golden brown; colourless in transmitted light.. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Cahnite?
Cahnite has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.
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