Aravaite is an extremely rare lead-calcium silicate phosphate mineral discovered in the pyrometamorphic rocks of the Hatrurim Basin. It typically occurs as small, colorless, or white platy crystals in association with other rare high-temperature minerals. Because of its locality-specific occurrence, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors specializing in rare species.
Is this aravaite?
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 aravaite with a known reference. Aravaite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Aravaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside aravaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with aravaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂Ca₁₈(SiO₄)₆(PO₄)₃(CO₃)F₃O
- Mohs hardness
- ~5
- Density
- 3.327 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In pyrometamorphic spurrite rocks of the Hatrurim Complex, Israel
Where rockhounds find aravaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Arava Valley, Negev desert, near Arad, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In pyrometamorphic spurrite rocks of the Hatrurim Complex, Israel. If you start seeing spurrite, calcite, brownmillerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify aravaite?+
Where is aravaite found?+
What rocks look like aravaite?+
What minerals are found with aravaite?+
What kind of rock does aravaite form in?+
What is aravaite used for?+
Find aravaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
