Aminoffite is a very rare beryllium silicate mineral primarily known from the famous mining district of Långban, Sweden. It typically occurs as small, clear, tabular tetragonal crystals embedded within calcite or associated with other rare silicates in metamorphosed manganese-iron ore environments.
Is this aminoffite?
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 aminoffite with a known reference. Aminoffite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Aminoffite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside aminoffite
Minerals reported to co-occur with aminoffite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃(BeOH)₂Si₃O₁₀
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 2.94 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In cavities in massive magnetite (Långban, Sweden); in fluorite veins at the contact between marbles and hornblende granites associated with hastingsite nepheline syenites (Dugdinsk massif, Russia)
Where rockhounds find aminoffite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Found in the Bayankolsk dike field, Tuva, and in the Dugdinsk massif, Russia
- Lake Baikal area, eastern Siberia, Russia
- Hall's Grampians, eight km northwest of Emmaville, New South Wales, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In cavities in massive magnetite (Långban, Sweden); in fluorite veins at the contact between marbles and hornblende granites associated with hastingsite nepheline syenites (Dugdinsk massif, Russia). If you start seeing magnetite, goethite, fluorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify aminoffite?+
Where is aminoffite found?+
Is aminoffite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like aminoffite?+
What minerals are found with aminoffite?+
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What is aminoffite used for?+
Find aminoffite on the map
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