Aklimaite is a rare calcium silicate mineral typically found in metamorphic environments involving limestone. It most often presents as white, fibrous, or radiating crystalline masses that can be easily mistaken for other fibrous silicates.
Is this aklimaite?
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 aklimaite with a known reference. Aklimaite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Aklimaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Aklimaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters.
Often confused with
Aklimaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside aklimaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with aklimaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Si₂O₅(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.47 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Aggregates, Radiating Clusters
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Contact Zones
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find aklimaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Akchatau, Kazakhstan
- Hatrurim Formation, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic contact zones country — that is the host setting where aklimaite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, afwillite, portlandite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find aklimaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
