Belyankinite is a rare hydrated calcium titanium silicate typically found as a secondary mineral in alkaline igneous environments. It is most often identified as soft, whitish masses associated with complex titanium-silicate assemblages in the Khibiny and Lovozero massifs.
Is this belyankinite?
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 belyankinite with a known reference. Belyankinite sits at Mohs 2-3, 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 to oily, pearly on cleavage surfaces.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: aggregates, platy.
Often confused with
Belyankinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Kaersutite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Belyankinite leaves white, Kaersutite leaves brownish gray.
How to tell apart: Labuntsovite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 2-3); luster reads vitreous to oily, pearly on cleavage surfaces on Belyankinite and greasy on Labuntsovite.
Often found alongside belyankinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with belyankinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₁₋₂(Ti,Zr,Nb)₅O₁₂·9H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.32-2.4 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to oily, pearly on cleavage surfaces
- Transparency
- Opaque, translucent in thin section
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect in one direction, parallel to the plates
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Included in aegirine and microcline, in nepheline syenite pegmatite in an alkalic massif, in part probably as a replacement of murmanite
Where rockhounds find belyankinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Karnasurt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Included in aegirine and microcline, in nepheline syenite pegmatite in an alkalic massif, in part probably as a replacement of murmanite. If you start seeing aegirine, microcline, nepheline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find belyankinite on the map
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