Georgechaoite is an extremely rare silicate mineral found primarily in the nepheline syenite pegmatites of Mont Saint-Hilaire. Collectors typically look for its small, colorless to white tabular crystals often occurring in intimate association with other rare zirconium minerals.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrareGismondine Group family

Georgechaoite

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Semitransparent

Is this georgechaoite?

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 georgechaoite with a known reference. Georgechaoite sits at Mohs 5, 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.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates.

Often confused with

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

mineral

Leucosphenite

Mohs 6-6.5

How to tell apart: Leucosphenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 5).

Often found alongside georgechaoite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: NaKZrSi₃O₉·2H₂O
Mohs hardness: 5
Density: 2.70 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, radiating aggregates
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In miarolitic cavities in analcime-bearing nepheline syenite (Wind Mountain, New Mexico, USA)

Where rockhounds find georgechaoite

Classic worldwide localities

Wind Mountain, Otero Co., New Mexico, USA
Vuoriyarvi carbonatite complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In miarolitic cavities in analcime-bearing nepheline syenite (Wind Mountain, New Mexico, USA). If you start seeing microcline, nepheline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify georgechaoite?+

Mohs hardness is 5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white.

Where is georgechaoite found?+

Notable localities include Wind Mountain, Otero Co., New Mexico, USA; Vuoriyarvi carbonatite complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia.

What rocks look like georgechaoite?+

Georgechaoite is most often confused with Leucosphenite, Eudialyte. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with georgechaoite?+

Georgechaoite commonly co-occurs with Microcline, Nepheline, Aegirine, Catapleiite, Monazite, Chlorite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does georgechaoite form in?+

Where it forms: In miarolitic cavities in analcime-bearing nepheline syenite (Wind Mountain, New Mexico, USA). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is georgechaoite used for?+

Georgechaoite is used in collector.

Find georgechaoite on the map

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