Kassite is a very rare calcium titanium hydroxide mineral found primarily in the alkaline igneous complexes of the Kola Peninsula. It typically forms small, clear to brownish pink to pale yellow tabular crystals that are highly sought after by advanced collectors of rare titanium species.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Adamantine

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrare

Kassite

Hardness: 5
Luster: Adamantine
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

Is this kassite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch kassite with a known reference. Kassite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: brown red, colorless, light yellow.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal, rosette.

Often confused with

Kassite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside kassite

Minerals reported to co-occur with kassite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: CaTi₂O₄(OH)₂
Mohs hardness: 5
Density: 3.42 g/cm³
Colors: Brown red Colorless Light yellow
Streak: White
Luster: Adamantine
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Pseudo hexagonal, rosette
Cleavage: {010}, perfect; {101}, distinct
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Lining miarolitic cavities in alkalic pegmatites (Afrikanda massif, Russia); in nepheline syenite (Diamond Jo quarry, Arkansas, USA)

Where rockhounds find kassite

Classic worldwide localities

Diamond Jo quarry, Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas, USA
A mantle xenolith from Josephine Creek, Josephine Co., Oregon, USA
Afrikanda pyroxenite massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Wuyang iron deposit, Henan Province, China

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Lining miarolitic cavities in alkalic pegmatites (Afrikanda massif, Russia); in nepheline syenite (Diamond Jo quarry, Arkansas, USA). If you start seeing cafetite, perovskite, titanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudo hexagonal, rosette. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify kassite?+

Mohs hardness is 5. Luster: adamantine. The streak is white. Common colors include brown red, colorless, light yellow.

Where is kassite found?+

Notable localities include Diamond Jo quarry, Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas, USA; A mantle xenolith from Josephine Creek, Josephine Co., Oregon, USA; Afrikanda pyroxenite massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia; Wuyang iron deposit, Henan Province, China.

What rocks look like kassite?+

Kassite is most often confused with Perovskite, Anatase. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with kassite?+

Kassite commonly co-occurs with Cafetite, Perovskite, Titanite, Rutile, Ilmenite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does kassite form in?+

Where it forms: Lining miarolitic cavities in alkalic pegmatites (Afrikanda massif, Russia); in nepheline syenite (Diamond Jo quarry, Arkansas, USA). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is kassite used for?+

Kassite is used in collector.

Find kassite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.