Davreuxite is a rare manganese aluminum silicate typically found in low-grade metamorphic rocks. It usually appears as fine, needle-like or prismatic crystals often clustered in radial aggregates, primarily known from the Ardennes region of Belgium.
Is this davreuxite?
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 davreuxite with a known reference. Davreuxite sits at Mohs 2-3, 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: silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: cream white, light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous.
Often confused with
Davreuxite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sillimanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads silky on Davreuxite and vitreous to subadamantine on Sillimanite.
How to tell apart: Andalusite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads silky on Davreuxite and vitreous to subvitreous on Andalusite.
Often found alongside davreuxite
Minerals reported to co-occur with davreuxite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺Al₆Si₄O₁₇(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.30-3.38 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Silky
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous
- Cleavage
- Good on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In quartz veins cutting Mn, Al-rich metapelites, derived from shales subjected to low-grade metamorphism
Where rockhounds find davreuxite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stavelot massif, at Ottré, at Sart-Close, near Salmchâteau, at Regne, and at Recht, Belgium
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In quartz veins cutting Mn, Al-rich metapelites, derived from shales subjected to low-grade metamorphism. If you start seeing quartz, pyrophyllite, ottrélite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find davreuxite on the map
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