Hydrokenoralstonite is a rare member of the ralstonite group found primarily in advanced cryolite deposits. It typically forms small, sharp octahedral crystals and is most often identified by its association with rare fluoride minerals in pegmatitic environments.
Is this hydrokenoralstonite?
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 hydrokenoralstonite with a known reference. Hydrokenoralstonite sits at Mohs 4.5, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellowish, pinkish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, often showing faces of the cube and dodecahedron.
Often confused with
Hydrokenoralstonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hydrokenoralstonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hydrokenoralstonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- □₂Al₂F₆(H₂O)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 2.66 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral crystals, often showing faces of the cube and dodecahedron
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- cryolite-bearing pegmatites and hydrothermal deposits
Where rockhounds find hydrokenoralstonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ivigtut, Greenland
- Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA
- Azov Massif, Ukraine
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: cryolite-bearing pegmatites and hydrothermal deposits. If you start seeing cryolite, siderite, fluorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, often showing faces of the cube and dodecahedron. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hydrokenoralstonite?+
Where is hydrokenoralstonite found?+
What rocks look like hydrokenoralstonite?+
What minerals are found with hydrokenoralstonite?+
What kind of rock does hydrokenoralstonite form in?+
What is hydrokenoralstonite used for?+
Find hydrokenoralstonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
