Davanite is a rare potassium titanium silicate mineral primarily found in the agpaitic pegmatites of the Khibiny Massif in Russia. It typically forms colorless to white platy, tabular crystals that are difficult to distinguish from other similar silicates without X-ray diffraction analysis. Collectors prize it as a rare species of the Khibiny locality, often occurring associated with other complex titanium-bearing minerals.
Is this davanite?
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 davanite with a known reference. Davanite sits at Mohs 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: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates.
Often confused with
Davanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Labuntsovite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 5); luster reads vitreous on Davanite and greasy on Labuntsovite.
How to tell apart: Davanite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 3); streak differs, so Davanite leaves white, Astrophyllite leaves golden; luster reads vitreous on Davanite and submetallic, pearly, greasy on Astrophyllite.
Often found alongside davanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with davanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂TiSi₆O₁₅
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.76 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, tabular aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- In contact metamorphic rocks in an alkalic massif (Murun massif, Russia); of magmatic origin, lining vugs in lamproites (Smoky Butte, Montana, USA)
Where rockhounds find davanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Smoky Butte, Garfield Co., Montana, USA
- Davan Stream, in the Murun massif, southwest of Olekminsk, Yakutia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In contact metamorphic rocks in an alkalic massif (Murun massif, Russia); of magmatic origin, lining vugs in lamproites (Smoky Butte, Montana, USA). If you start seeing aegirine, pectolite, titanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find davanite on the map
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