Cascandite is a rare scandium-bearing silicate typically found as pink, acicular to fibrous aggregates in miarolitic cavities of pegmatites. It is best known from its type locality in the Baveno granite of Italy, where it forms delicate sprays often associated with other rare minerals.
Is this cascandite?
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 cascandite with a known reference. Cascandite sits at Mohs 4.5-5.5, 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: light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates.
Often confused with
Cascandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cascandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cascandite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaScSi₃O₈(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5.5
- Density
- 3.01 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good on {100} and {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In miarolitic cavities in granite
Where rockhounds find cascandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Diverio quarry, Mt. Mottarone, near Baveno, Piedmont, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In miarolitic cavities in granite. If you start seeing quartz, orthoclase, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify cascandite?+
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What rocks look like cascandite?+
What minerals are found with cascandite?+
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Find cascandite on the map
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