Dusmatovite is a rare cyclosilicate mineral within the milarite group, typically found as small, distinct prismatic crystals. It is best known from the unique alkaline pegmatites of the Dara-i-Pioz massif in Tajikistan. Due to its extreme rarity and very limited type locality, it is highly sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.
Is this dusmatovite?
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 dusmatovite with a known reference. Dusmatovite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, dirty blue, violet brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: aggregates.
Often confused with
Dusmatovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Milarite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 4.5); streak differs, so Dusmatovite leaves pale blue, Milarite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Dusmatovite leaves pale blue, Osumilite leaves blue-gray.
Often found alongside dusmatovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dusmatovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KK₂Mn₂(Zn₂LiSi₁₂)O₃₀
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 2.96 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale blue
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a pegmatite boulder in a glacial moraine
Where rockhounds find dusmatovite
Classic worldwide localities
- The Dara-i-Pioz alkaline massif, Tien Shan, Tajikistan (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a pegmatite boulder in a glacial moraine. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify dusmatovite?+
Where is dusmatovite found?+
What rocks look like dusmatovite?+
What minerals are found with dusmatovite?+
What kind of rock does dusmatovite form in?+
What is dusmatovite used for?+
Find dusmatovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
