Hibonite is an extremely rare calcium aluminum oxide mineral primarily known for its occurrence in calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions within carbonaceous chondrite meteorites. On Earth, it is found in high-grade metamorphic rocks and is prized by serious collectors and researchers for its complex chemistry and extraterrestrial origins.
Is this hibonite?
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 hibonite with a known reference. Hibonite sits at Mohs 7.5-8 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hibonite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hibonite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown, reddish-brown, blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, hexagonal prisms.
Often confused with
Hibonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Corundum is the harder of the two (Mohs 9 vs. 7.5-8).
How to tell apart: Hibonite is noticeably harder (Mohs 7.5-8 vs. 5.5-6.5); streak differs — Hibonite leaves white, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads vitreous on Hibonite and metallic on Magnetite.
Often found alongside hibonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hibonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Ce)(Al,Ti,Mg)₁₂O₁₉
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5-8
- Density
- 3.84 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Hexagonal Prisms
- Cleavage
- Poor On Basal Pinacoid
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Limestones, Calcium-aluminum-rich Inclusions in Meteorites
- Typical price
- $50-500+ per specimen depending on crystal quality
Where rockhounds find hibonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Esna, Egypt
- Murchison meteorite, Australia
- Allende meteorite, Mexico
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed limestones, calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions in meteorites country — that is the host setting where hibonite typically forms. If you start seeing spinel, perovskite, melilite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, hexagonal prisms habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hibonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
