Gittinsite is a rare calcium zirconium silicate typically found as small, thin platy crystals in peralkaline pegmatites. Collectors look for its occurrence in complex mineral assemblages, often associated with other rare-earth and zirconium-rich minerals in hyper-alkaline environments.
Is this gittinsite?
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 gittinsite with a known reference. Gittinsite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, 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: lemon white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, radial aggregates, massive.
Often confused with
Gittinsite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Thortveitite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Gittinsite leaves white, Thortveitite leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Rosenbuschite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 3.5-4).
Often found alongside gittinsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gittinsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaZrSi₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 3.62 g/cm³
- Colors
- Lemon white
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, radial aggregates, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In eudialyte-rich pegmatitic lenses in a regionally metamorphosed agpaitic syenite complex (Kipawa River, Canada)
Where rockhounds find gittinsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pajarito Mountain, Mescalero Indian Reservation, Otero Co., New Mexico, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In eudialyte-rich pegmatitic lenses in a regionally metamorphosed agpaitic syenite complex (Kipawa River, Canada). If you start seeing apophyllite, vlasovite, eudialyte in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, radial aggregates, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gittinsite on the map
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