How do I identify Kinoite?

Kinoite can be identified by its hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale, Transparent deep blue color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Kinoite?

Kinoite typically appears in Transparent deep blue. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

Kinoite has a hardness of 2.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Kinoite

A variety of Minerals

Rare

What is Kinoite?

Kinoite (Ca2Cu2Si3O8(OH)4 or Ca2Cu2Si3O10·2H2O) is a light blue copper silicate mineral. It is somewhat scarce. It has a monoclinic crystal system, vitreous luster, and is transparent to translucent. It can be found in the Santa Rita Mountains, the Christmas Mine at Christmas, Arizona and a few other copper mines. Kinoite is popular with mineral collectors. Kinoite was named upon its discovery in 1970 after the pioneer Jesuit missionary Padre Eusebio Kino who worked in Arizona, Sonora and Baja California.

Uses & Applications

Kinoite is primarily valued as a mineral specimen for collectors due to its attractive light blue color and rarity. It has no significant commercial applications but is prized for its aesthetic appeal in mineral collections.

Optical Properties

Refractive Index: 1.558-1.573
Pleochroism: Weak
Optical Character: Biaxial positive
Dispersion: 0.018

Discover Values

Rarity

4.6out of 5.0

92%

Excellent

Popularity

3.2out of 5.0

64%

Beauty

4.1out of 5.0

82%

Cultural Value

3.8out of 5.0

76%

Collection Value

4.3out of 5.0

86%

Perfect for rare stone collectors

This stone excels in rarity.

Kinoite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Kinoite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Kinoite Localities Map

See where Kinoite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

The Meaning

Named after Padre Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit missionary who worked in Arizona and Sonora. The mineral represents the intersection of geological beauty and historical significance in the American Southwest.

Geochemistry

Forms as a secondary mineral in oxidized copper deposits through hydrothermal alteration. The characteristic blue color comes from copper content, and it typically associates with other copper silicates in mine environments.