Banalsite is a rare barium-sodium aluminosilicate that primarily occurs in metamorphosed manganese deposits. It typically forms as small, tabular white to colorless crystals, though it is often found in massive or granular aggregates that require analytical verification for positive identification.
Is this banalsite?
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 banalsite with a known reference. Banalsite sits at Mohs 6.5, 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 cleavage.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Banalsite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside banalsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with banalsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂BaAl₄Si₄O₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.065 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly on cleavage
- Transparency
- Translucent to transparent in thin flakes
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- Good on {110} and {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- In veinlets through manganese ore and in lenses in metamorphosed mudstone (Benallt mine, Wales)
Where rockhounds find banalsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Benallt mine, Rhiw, Lleyn Peninsula, Wales
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Kalahari manganese field, Cape Province and the Pilansberg peralkaline complex, South Africa
- Prairie Lake complex, Superior Alkaline Province, northwestern Ontario, Canada
- Sakharjok alkaline complex, the Turiy Mys complex of ultramafic-alkaline rocks and carbonatites, and the peralkaline Gremyakha-Vyrmes complex, Kola Alkaline Province, Russia
- Zhidoy massif, Eastern Sayan, Siberia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In veinlets through manganese ore and in lenses in metamorphosed mudstone (Benallt mine, Wales). If you start seeing calcite, natrolite, tephroite 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 banalsite?+
Where is banalsite found?+
What rocks look like banalsite?+
What minerals are found with banalsite?+
What kind of rock does banalsite form in?+
What is banalsite used for?+
Find banalsite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
