Jarlite is an extremely rare fluoride mineral primarily found within the cryolite deposits of Ivigtut, Greenland. Collectors look for its characteristic colorless to white tabular crystals or massive, granular aggregates associated with other rare fluoride species.
Is this jarlite?
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 jarlite with a known reference. Jarlite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, 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: colorless, gray white, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, spherical, tabular.
Often confused with
Jarlite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside jarlite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jarlite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂(Sr,Na)₁₄(Mg,□)₂Al₁₂F₆₄(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 3.87 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, spherical, tabular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In vugs in a cryolite deposit with other fluorides
Where rockhounds find jarlite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ivigtut cryolite deposit, Greenland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In vugs in a cryolite deposit with other fluorides. If you start seeing cryolite, gearksutite, chiolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, spherical, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify jarlite?+
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What rocks look like jarlite?+
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Find jarlite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
