Chegemite is a rare member of the humite group, primarily known for its occurrence in the unusual skarn xenoliths of the Chegem caldera in Russia. It typically presents as small, colorless or pale yellow crystals and is highly prized by advanced mineral collectors for its geological significance and scarcity.
Is this chegemite?
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 chegemite with a known reference. Chegemite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, yellow-pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Chegemite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside chegemite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chegemite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₇(SiO₄)₃(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 2.86 g/cm³
- Colors
- PinkYellow-pink
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A product of sanidinite facies metamorphism of calcareous xenoliths in ignimbrite
Where rockhounds find chegemite
Classic worldwide localities
- Upper Chegem volcanic structure, Northern Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A product of sanidinite facies metamorphism of calcareous xenoliths in ignimbrite. If you start seeing larnite, spurrite, rondorfite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find chegemite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
