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 — that is 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
How do you identify ekanite?+
Where is ekanite found?+
How much is ekanite worth?+
Is ekanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like ekanite?+
What minerals are found with ekanite?+
What kind of rock does ekanite form in?+
What is ekanite used for?+
Find ekanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
