Fedorite is a rare phyllosilicate mineral typically occurring as thin, pearly, micaceous flakes or platy crystals within alkaline rock environments. Collectors often find it associated with other exotic minerals in the pegmatites of the Khibiny or Murun Massifs. Due to its delicate, sheet-like structure and rarity, it is primarily sought after by advanced mineral collectors specializing in rare silicates.

Hardness

3-4

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous, satiny, pearly

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Fedorite

Hardness: 3-4
Luster: Vitreous, satiny, pearly
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Is this fedorite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch fedorite with a known reference. Fedorite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, satiny, pearly.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, light red, pearl white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal, tabular.

Often confused with

Fedorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside fedorite

Minerals reported to co-occur with fedorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: KNa₂Ca₂(Si₈O₁₉)(OH,F)₂·H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3-4
Density: 2.43-2.58 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Light red Pearl white
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous, satiny, pearly
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Triclinic
Crystal habit: Pseudo hexagonal, tabular
Cleavage: Perfect micaceous on {001}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In fine veinlets in fenitized sandstone (Turii Peninsula, Russia)

Where rockhounds find fedorite

Classic worldwide localities

Turii Peninsula, Kola Peninsula, and in the Murun massif, southwest of Olekminsk, Yakutia, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In fine veinlets in fenitized sandstone (Turii Peninsula, Russia). If you start seeing narsarsukite, quartz, apophyllite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify fedorite?+

Mohs hardness is 3-4. Luster: vitreous, satiny, pearly. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, light red, pearl white.

Where is fedorite found?+

Notable localities include Turii Peninsula, Kola Peninsula, and in the Murun massif, southwest of Olekminsk, Yakutia, Russia.

What rocks look like fedorite?+

Fedorite is most often confused with Apophyllite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with fedorite?+

Fedorite commonly co-occurs with Narsarsukite, Quartz, Apophyllite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does fedorite form in?+

Where it forms: In fine veinlets in fenitized sandstone (Turii Peninsula, Russia). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is fedorite used for?+

Fedorite is used in collector.

Find fedorite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.