Hazenite is an extremely rare phosphate mineral known specifically from the alkaline, hypersaline environment of Mono Lake, California. It forms as thin, colorless, tabular crystals that are often associated with microbial activity in the lake sediments.
Is this hazenite?
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 hazenite with a known reference. Hazenite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hazenite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hazenite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Hazenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hazenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hazenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KNaMg₂(PO₄)₂·14H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.89 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Lake Sediments
- Typical price
- $100-500+ per specimen
Where rockhounds find hazenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mono Lake, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline lake sediments country — that is the host setting where hazenite typically forms. If you start seeing struvite, nahcolite, trona in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hazenite?+
Where is hazenite found?+
How much is hazenite worth?+
What rocks look like hazenite?+
What minerals are found with hazenite?+
What kind of rock does hazenite form in?+
What is hazenite used for?+
Find hazenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
