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 — that is 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
How do you identify howlite?+
Where is howlite found?+
How much is howlite worth?+
What rocks look like howlite?+
What minerals are found with howlite?+
What kind of rock does howlite form in?+
What is howlite used for?+
Find howlite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
