Feklichevite is a rare silicate mineral belonging to the eudialyte group, primarily identified in the hyper-alkaline complexes of the Kola Peninsula. Collectors look for its characteristic tabular crystal habit often associated with nepheline syenites and pegmatitic intrusions.
Is this feklichevite?
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 feklichevite with a known reference. Feklichevite sits at Mohs 5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, brownish black, brown, pinkish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: equant grains, euhedral crystals, tabular.
Often confused with
Feklichevite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside feklichevite
Minerals reported to co-occur with feklichevite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₁₁Ca₉(Fe,Fe)₂Zr₃Nb(Si₂₅O₇₃)(OH,H₂O,Cl,O)₅
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 2.87 g/cm³
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Equant grains, euhedral crystals, tabular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a pegmatoidal cancrinite syenite vein in a phlogopite mine
Where rockhounds find feklichevite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kovdor phlogopite mine, Kovdor massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a pegmatoidal cancrinite syenite vein in a phlogopite mine. If you start seeing k-feldspar, cancrinite, aegirine-diopside in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: equant grains, euhedral crystals, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify feklichevite?+
Where is feklichevite found?+
What rocks look like feklichevite?+
What minerals are found with feklichevite?+
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What is feklichevite used for?+
Find feklichevite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
