Edingtonite is a rare barium-rich zeolite often found as small, sharp, pseudo-tetragonal crystals. It is highly sought after by collectors for its crystal symmetry and is typically found in igneous rocks like nepheline syenite or as a late-stage mineral in volcanic cavities.
Is this edingtonite?
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 edingtonite with a known reference. Edingtonite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, 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: white, brownish gray, colorless, gray, pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, prismatic, pseudo tetragonal.
Often confused with
Edingtonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside edingtonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with edingtonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaAl₂Si₃O₁₀·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 2.73-2.78 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, prismatic, pseudo tetragonal
- Cleavage
- {110}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In cavities in mafic igneous rocks and nepheline syenites; in carbonatites; in hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find edingtonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ash Creek, in Mendocino Co. near the Sonoma Co. line, California, USA
- Disgwylfa Hill, Shropshire, England
- Bölet mine, Västergötland, Sweden
- Staré Ransko, Czech Republic
- Podol'skoye and other deposits, Southern Ural Mountains, and in the Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Brunswick No. 12 mine, near Bathurst, New Brunswick, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In cavities in mafic igneous rocks and nepheline syenites; in carbonatites; in hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing thomsonite, analcime, natrolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, prismatic, pseudo tetragonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify edingtonite?+
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What rocks look like edingtonite?+
What minerals are found with edingtonite?+
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Find edingtonite on the map
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