Gottardiite is a rare member of the zeolite group often found in volcanic cavities within basalt. It forms clear to white tabular crystals that strongly resemble stilbite, and identification usually requires X-ray diffraction due to its structural complexity.
Is this gottardiite?
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 gottardiite with a known reference. Gottardiite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Gottardiite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Gottardiite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, aggregates.
Often confused with
Gottardiite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside gottardiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gottardiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₃KCaMg₅(Si₂₇Al₉)O₇₂·23H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 2.14 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Basaltic Cavities
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality
Where rockhounds find gottardiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Antarctia
- Oregon, USA
- Iceland
Field-hunting tip
Look in basaltic cavities country — that is the host setting where gottardiite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, heulandite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gottardiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
