Høgtuvaite is a rare member of the aenigmatite group found primarily in alkaline syenite pegmatites in Norway. It typically appears as dark, tabular crystals and is distinguished from its group relatives by its specific chemical composition and complex crystal structure.
Is this høgtuvaite?
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 høgtuvaite with a known reference. Høgtuvaite 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: dark green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subadamantine to nonmetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Høgtuvaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Høgtuvaite leaves dark green, Aenigmatite leaves reddish brown; luster reads subadamantine to nonmetallic on Høgtuvaite and vitreous to greasy on Aenigmatite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Høgtuvaite leaves dark green, Rhönite leaves brownish gray; luster reads subadamantine to nonmetallic on Høgtuvaite and semimetallic on Rhönite.
Often found alongside høgtuvaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with høgtuvaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄(Fe₆Fe₆)O₄[Si₈Be₂Al₂O₃₆]
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 3.85-3.88 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark green
- Luster
- Subadamantine to nonmetallic
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As a late-stage metamorphic mineral in peraluminous granitic gneisses and mafic pegmatites associated with a beryllium deposit (near Mo i Rana, Norway)
Where rockhounds find høgtuvaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found about 16 km northwest of Mo i Rana, Norway
- Ilmen Mountains, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As a late-stage metamorphic mineral in peraluminous granitic gneisses and mafic pegmatites associated with a beryllium deposit (near Mo i Rana, Norway). If you start seeing quartz, albite, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify høgtuvaite?+
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Is høgtuvaite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like høgtuvaite?+
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Find høgtuvaite on the map
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