Innelite is a rare barium-titanium silicate typically found as platy or tabular crystals within alkaline pegmatites. It is most easily identified by its distinctive yellowish-brown color and its close association with other rare minerals of the Lovozero Massif.
Is this innelite?
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 innelite with a known reference. Innelite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Innelite leaves a yellowish-white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Innelite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, golden-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, platy, lamellar aggregates.
Often confused with
Innelite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Innelite leaves yellowish-white, Lamprophyllite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Innelite leaves yellowish-white, Astrophyllite leaves golden-brown; luster reads vitreous on Innelite and submetallic on Astrophyllite.
Often found alongside innelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with innelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₄(Na,Ti,Mn)₄Ti₂(Si₂O₇)₂O₂(OH,F)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.32 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Platy, Lamellar Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks, Nepheline Syenite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find innelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Lovozero Massif, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks, nepheline syenite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where innelite typically forms. If you start seeing aegirine, nepheline, eudialyte in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, platy, lamellar aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find innelite on the map
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