Hafnon is a rare silicate mineral that is structurally identical to zircon but with hafnium as the dominant metal. It is typically found in highly evolved granite pegmatites and is prized by collectors for its extreme density and high refractive index. Specimens are usually very small, often occurring as microscopic inclusions or tiny tetragonal crystals.
Is this hafnon?
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 hafnon with a known reference. Hafnon sits at Mohs 7.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hafnon leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hafnon typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, brown, yellow, pale gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Hafnon vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hafnon
Minerals reported to co-occur with hafnon. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- HfSiO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5
- Density
- 7.0-7.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 per specimen depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find hafnon
Classic worldwide localities
- Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique
- Hitura mine, Finland
- Tvedalen, Norway
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where hafnon typically forms. If you start seeing zircon, quartz, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hafnon on the map
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