Eitelite is a rare sodium-magnesium carbonate primarily associated with evaporitic environments like the Green River Formation. It typically occurs as small tabular crystals or in massive form, often found embedded within oil shales or associated with other rare carbonate minerals.
Is this eitelite?
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 eitelite with a known reference. Eitelite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Eitelite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Eitelite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellowish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Eitelite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside eitelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with eitelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Mg(CO₃)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.51 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Study
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits in Lacustrine Shales
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find eitelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Green River Formation, USA
- Khibiny Massif, Russia
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits in lacustrine shales country — that is the host setting where eitelite typically forms. If you start seeing nahcolite, shortite, trona in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find eitelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
