How do I identify Sarabauite?

Sarabauite can be identified by its hardness of 4 on the Mohs scale, Carmine red color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Sarabauite?

Sarabauite typically appears in Carmine red. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Sarabauite?

Sarabauite has a hardness of 4 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Sarabauite

A variety of Minerals

What is Sarabauite?

Sarabauite (sar-a-bau'-ite) is a red monoclinic sulfide mineral with the chemical formula: CaSb10O10S6.

Sarabauite Market Value Calculator

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

Sarabauite Localities Map

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

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Sarabauite

Sarabauite is a biaxial negative mineral. All minerals of the monoclinic, orthorhombic, and triclinic systems are biaxial minerals. Unlike uniaxial minerals, biaxial crystals have 2 optic axes. This means they have two directions in which light can travel without birefringence, three principal axes, and accordingly three different indices of refraction. Biaxial minerals are further subdivided by optic sign. The optic angle, 2V, is the angle between the two optic axes that is split by the direction of the lowest index of refraction. If 2V is acute, the mineral is biaxial positive. In sarabauite crystals this angle is obtuse, thus the mineral is biaxial negative.