Fluorcanasite is a rare potassium-sodium-calcium silicate mineral primarily found in alkaline pegmatites. It is best known to collectors for its intense, bright yellow fluorescence under short-wave ultraviolet light, which makes it a highly prized display specimen.
Is this fluorcanasite?
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 fluorcanasite with a known reference. Fluorcanasite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: purple.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates.
Often confused with
Fluorcanasite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside fluorcanasite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fluorcanasite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₃Na₃Ca₅Si₁₂O₃₀F₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.68 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good on {100} and {201̄}, perfect on {001}
- Fluorescence
- Bright yellow under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In hyperalkaline pegmatite in an alkaline massif
Where rockhounds find fluorcanasite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mount Kukisvumchorr, Khibina alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hyperalkaline pegmatite in an alkaline massif. If you start seeing microcline, nepheline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify fluorcanasite?+
Where is fluorcanasite found?+
What rocks look like fluorcanasite?+
What minerals are found with fluorcanasite?+
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What is fluorcanasite used for?+
Find fluorcanasite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
