Ekanite is a rare radioactive silicate mineral typically found as green to brownish-green grains or pebbles. It is notable for its thorium content, which makes it mildly radioactive and often metamict due to radiation-induced structural damage.
Is this ekanite?
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 ekanite with a known reference. Ekanite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Ekanite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Ekanite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow-green, brown, olive-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, anhedral grains, occasionally short prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Ekanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Zircon is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 5-6); luster reads vitreous on Ekanite and adamantine on Zircon.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Ekanite and adamantine on Titanite.
Often found alongside ekanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ekanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ThCa₂Si₈O₂₀
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 3.28 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Anhedral Grains, Occasionally Short Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Pegmatites, Contact Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-500 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find ekanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Eheliyagoda, Sri Lanka
- Central Asia
- Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites, contact metamorphic rocks country, the host setting where ekanite typically forms. If you start seeing thorite, quartz, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, anhedral grains, occasionally short prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find ekanite on the map
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