Arctite is a rare phosphate mineral primarily found in the alkaline pegmatites of the Kola Peninsula in Russia. It typically occurs as small, colorless to white tabular crystals or massive aggregates and is often associated with nepheline and aegirine.
Is this arctite?
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 arctite with a known reference. Arctite 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, pearly on the perfect cleavage.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Arctite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside arctite
Minerals reported to co-occur with arctite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na₅Ca)Ca₆Ba(PO₄)₆F₃
- Mohs hardness
- ~5
- Density
- 3.13 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly on the perfect cleavage
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late-stage pneumatolytic mineral in pegmatitic veinlets in a differentiated alkalic massif
Where rockhounds find arctite
Classic worldwide localities
- Drill core from the valley of the Vounnimi River, Khibina alkalic massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage pneumatolytic mineral in pegmatitic veinlets in a differentiated alkalic massif. If you start seeing natrosilite, vuonnemite, lomonosovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify arctite?+
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What rocks look like arctite?+
What minerals are found with arctite?+
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Find arctite on the map
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