Cancrinite is a complex feldspathoid mineral often found in alkaline igneous environments. It is most easily identified by its vibrant yellow to orange color and its characteristic bright fluorescence under long-wave ultraviolet light.
Is this cancrinite?
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 cancrinite with a known reference. Cancrinite sits at Mohs 5-6, 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, or greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, orange, white, gray, colorless, blue, gray green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive, prismatic.
Often confused with
Cancrinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cancrinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cancrinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Ca,□)₈(Al₆Si₆)O₂₄(CO₃,SO₄)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 2.4-2.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly, or greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {1010}, poor on {0001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Decorative, Lapidary
- Host rock
- A primary mineral in some alkalic igneous rocks, including pegmatites in nepheline syenites; also as an alteration product of nepheline
Where rockhounds find cancrinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gardiner and Litchfield, Kennebec Co., Maine, USA
- Pennsburg, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA
- Iron Hill, Gunnison Co., Colorado, USA
- Point of Rocks, Colfax Co., New Mexico, USA
- Miass, Ilmen Mountains, Southern Ural Mountains, and on the Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Tvedalen and the Langesundsfjord, Norway
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A primary mineral in some alkalic igneous rocks, including pegmatites in nepheline syenites; also as an alteration product of nepheline. If you start seeing nepheline, sodalite, natrolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify cancrinite?+
Where is cancrinite found?+
What rocks look like cancrinite?+
What minerals are found with cancrinite?+
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Find cancrinite on the map
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