Bobtraillite is a rare silicate mineral primarily found in alkaline intrusive complexes. It typically presents as small, yellow to brown prismatic crystals often occurring in cavities of nepheline syenite.
Is this bobtraillite?
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 bobtraillite with a known reference. Bobtraillite sits at Mohs 5.5, 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: gray, pale green, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: blocky, prismatic.
Often confused with
Bobtraillite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bobtraillite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bobtraillite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,□)₁₂(□,Na)₁₂Sr₁₂Zr₁₄(Si₃O₉)₁₀[Si₂BO₇(OH)₂]₆·12H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 3.16 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Blocky, prismatic
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late hydrothermal mineral in cavities in igneous breccia and nepheline syenite pegmatite
Where rockhounds find bobtraillite
Classic worldwide localities
- Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville County, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late hydrothermal mineral in cavities in igneous breccia and nepheline syenite pegmatite. If you start seeing donnayite-, clinoamphibole, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: blocky, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bobtraillite?+
Where is bobtraillite found?+
What rocks look like bobtraillite?+
What minerals are found with bobtraillite?+
What kind of rock does bobtraillite form in?+
What is bobtraillite used for?+
Find bobtraillite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
