Davidite-(La) is a rare complex titanium-oxide mineral often found as dark, opaque, massive grains in pegmatitic environments. It is highly valued by collectors for its rare earth element content and its notable radioactivity. It is primarily identified in the field by its high density and association with other radioactive accessory minerals.
Is this davidite-(la)?
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 davidite-(la) with a known reference. Davidite-(La) sits at Mohs ~6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish black to dark brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to submetallic, shining.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, grayish black, brownish black, dark brown, reddish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, metamict.
Often confused with
Davidite-(La) vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Davidite-(La) leaves grayish black to dark brown, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads vitreous to submetallic, shining on Davidite-(La) and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Davidite-(La) leaves grayish black to dark brown, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads vitreous to submetallic, shining on Davidite-(La) and metallic to submetallic, may be dull on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Davidite-(La) leaves grayish black to dark brown, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown; luster reads vitreous to submetallic, shining on Davidite-(La) and metallic or submetallic to dull on Hematite.
Often found alongside davidite-(la)
Minerals reported to co-occur with davidite-(la). Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- La(Y,U)Fe₂(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)₁₈(O,OH,F)₃₈
- Mohs hardness
- ~6
- Density
- 4.33-4.48 g/cm³
- Streak
- Grayish black to dark brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to submetallic, shining
- Transparency
- Opaque, translucent in very thin fragments
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains, massive, metamict
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A primary mineral in high-temperature hydrothermal veins; in norite and anorthosite; in alkalic rocks and also granite pegmatites and carbonatites
Where rockhounds find davidite-(la)
Classic worldwide localities
- Quijotoa Mountains, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
- Olary district, at Radium Hill, Crocker’s Well, and Billeroo Station, South Australia, and from Thackeringa, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
- Vishnevy Mountains, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
- Bek-tau Alta, Kazakhstan, From Iveland, Norway
- Björko, Västervik district, Sweden
- Villanueva del Fresno, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A primary mineral in high-temperature hydrothermal veins; in norite and anorthosite; in alkalic rocks and also granite pegmatites and carbonatites. If you start seeing rutile, titanite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains, massive, metamict. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify davidite-(la)?+
Where is davidite-(la) found?+
Is davidite-(la) safe to handle?+
What rocks look like davidite-(la)?+
What minerals are found with davidite-(la)?+
What kind of rock does davidite-(la) form in?+
What is davidite-(la) used for?+
Find davidite-(la) on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
