Canavesite is an extremely rare borate mineral found almost exclusively in the Canavese region of Italy. It typically forms delicate, needle-like white crystals or radial sprays within dolomitic limestone environments, often appearing alongside hydromagnesite.
Is this canavesite?
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 canavesite with a known reference. Canavesite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Canavesite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Canavesite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Canavesite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside canavesite
Minerals reported to co-occur with canavesite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₂(CO₃)(H₃B₃O₇)·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.05 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in Dolomitic Marble
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find canavesite
Classic worldwide localities
- Canavese, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal alteration zones in dolomitic marble country, the host setting where canavesite typically forms. If you start seeing hydromagnesite, calcite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find canavesite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
