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 6-7, 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: light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy.
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
- NaScSi₂O₆
- Mohs hardness
- 6-7
- Density
- 3.22 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In miarolitic cavities in granite
Where rockhounds find jervisite
Classic worldwide localities
- Diverio quarry, Mt. Mottarone, near Baveno, Piedmont, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In miarolitic cavities in granite. If you start seeing cascandite, quartz, orthoclase in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify jervisite?+
Where is jervisite found?+
What rocks look like jervisite?+
What minerals are found with jervisite?+
What kind of rock does jervisite form in?+
What is jervisite used for?+
Find jervisite on the map
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