Jervisite is a rare scandium-rich clinopyroxene that is highly sought after by mineral collectors for its scarcity. It typically occurs as small, pale green, transparent prismatic crystals within granite pegmatites and alkaline intrusive complexes. Identification often requires laboratory analysis due to its visual similarity to other pyroxene group members.
Is this jervisite?
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 jervisite with a known reference. Jervisite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Jervisite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jervisite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Jervisite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside jervisite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jervisite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Ca,Fe²⁺)(Sc,Mg,Fe²⁺)Si₂O₆
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Good On {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find jervisite
Classic worldwide localities
- Baveno, Italy
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where jervisite typically forms. If you start seeing microcline, albite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.







