Karpovite is a rare hydrated potassium sodium titanium vanadium phosphate mineral found in alkaline igneous complexes. It typically presents as small, delicate, pale yellow platy crystals or thin efflorescent crusts within cavities of pegmatites.
Is this karpovite?
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 karpovite with a known reference. Karpovite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Karpovite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Karpovite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Karpovite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside karpovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with karpovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂Na₂(TiO)₂(VO)₂(PO₄)₄F₂·20H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.83 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per micro-mount or small specimen
Where rockhounds find karpovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khibiny Massif, Russia
- Lovozero Massif, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline pegmatites country — that is the host setting where karpovite typically forms. If you start seeing anatase, apatite, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find karpovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
