Hochelagaite is a rare niobate mineral that typically forms as delicate, white platy crystals. It is primarily known from the Poudrette quarry and other sites within the Mont Saint-Hilaire alkaline complex in Quebec. Due to its scarcity and fragile habit, it is highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors.
Is this hochelagaite?
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 hochelagaite with a known reference. Hochelagaite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: globular, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Hochelagaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hochelagaite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 1-2); luster reads vitreous to silky on Hochelagaite and dull, earthy on Montmorillonite.
How to tell apart: Hochelagaite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 2-2.5); luster reads vitreous to silky on Hochelagaite and earthy to waxy on Palygorskite.
Often found alongside hochelagaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hochelagaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaNb₄O₁₁·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 2.89 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Globular, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In vugs of a dawsonite-bearing sill in a limestone deposit (Francon quarry, Canada)
Where rockhounds find hochelagaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Francon quarry, Montreal Island, Montreal, at Mont Saint-Hilaire, and near Saint-Amable, Quebec, Canada
- Vardeåsen, Langesundsfjord, Norway
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In vugs of a dawsonite-bearing sill in a limestone deposit (Francon quarry, Canada). If you start seeing franconite, weloganite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: globular, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hochelagaite?+
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What rocks look like hochelagaite?+
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Find hochelagaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
