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.

Hardness

3-4

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Aklimaite

Hardness: 3-4
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent

No image

Is this aklimaite?

4-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch aklimaite with a known reference. Aklimaite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
3
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless.
4
Look at form & habit
Crystal 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.

How to tell apart: Xonotlite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3-4); luster reads vitreous on Aklimaite and pearly, greasy on Xonotlite.

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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: Ca₄[Si₂O₅(OH)₂](OH)₄·5H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3-4
Density: 2.20 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters
Cleavage: On {001}, perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In a metasomatically altered limestone xenolith in ignimbrite

Where rockhounds find aklimaite

Classic worldwide localities

Upper Chegem (Verkhnechegemskaya) Caldera, near Mount Lakargi, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a metasomatically altered limestone xenolith in ignimbrite. If you start seeing larnite, hydrogarnets, bultfonteinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify aklimaite?+

Mohs hardness is 3-4. Luster: vitreous. Common colors include colorless.

Where is aklimaite found?+

Notable localities include Upper Chegem (Verkhnechegemskaya) Caldera, near Mount Lakargi, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia.

What rocks look like aklimaite?+

Aklimaite is most often confused with Wollastonite, Xonotlite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with aklimaite?+

Aklimaite commonly co-occurs with Larnite, Hydrogarnets, Bultfonteinite, Afwillite, Ettringite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does aklimaite form in?+

Where it forms: In a metasomatically altered limestone xenolith in ignimbrite. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is aklimaite used for?+

Aklimaite is used in collector.

Find aklimaite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.