Howlite is a borate mineral most commonly found in massive, chalk-white nodules with dark gray veining that creates a spider-web pattern. Because it is porous, it is frequently dyed blue or green to imitate turquoise, often sold as 'Turquenite' or 'White Buffalo' stone.
Is this howlite?
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 howlite with a known reference. Howlite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Howlite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Howlite typically shows a subvitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Howlite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside howlite
Minerals reported to co-occur with howlite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂B₅SiO₉(OH)₅
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.5-2.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Subvitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Fluorescence
- Bright Yellow Under LW UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Collector, Decorative
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $2-20 for tumbled pieces or small specimens
Where rockhounds find howlite
Classic worldwide localities
- California, USA
- Nova Scotia, Canada
- Germany
- Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits country, the host setting where howlite typically forms. If you start seeing colemanite, ulexite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find howlite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
