Bubnovaite is a rare potassium-sodium-calcium sulfate mineral first discovered in the volcanic fumaroles of the Tolbachik volcano. It typically forms thin, transparent platy crystals in high-temperature volcanic gas environments. Due to its extreme rarity and specific occurrence, it is primarily found in specialized mineral research collections.
Is this bubnovaite?
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 bubnovaite with a known reference. Bubnovaite 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, turns white on exposure, air.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Bubnovaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bubnovaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bubnovaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂Na₈Ca(SO₄)₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~2-3
- Density
- 2.656 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As sublimate incrustations and/or products of reaction between rock and volcanic gas on the surface of basalt scoria in an active fumarole
Where rockhounds find bubnovaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Naboko cone, Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As sublimate incrustations and/or products of reaction between rock and volcanic gas on the surface of basalt scoria in an active fumarole. If you start seeing aphthitalite, thénardite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bubnovaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
