Khvorovite is a rare lead calcium oxide, typically colorless to white. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2014. It was first described from the Darai-Pioz alkaline massif in the upper reaches of the Darai-Pioz river, Alaisky mountain ridge, Tien-Shan Mountains, Tajikistan.
Is this khvorovite?
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 khvorovite with a known reference. Khvorovite sits at Mohs 5-5.5, 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, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: irregular grains.
Often confused with
Khvorovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Grossular is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 5-5.5).
How to tell apart: Andradite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 5-5.5); luster reads vitreous on Khvorovite and adamantine to resinous, dull on Andradite.
Often found alongside khvorovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with khvorovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄Ca₂[Si₈B₂(SiB)O₂₈]F
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 3.96 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Irregular grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the moraine of the Darai-Pioz glacier which erodes a multiphase, boron-enriched, alkaline intrusive complex
Where rockhounds find khvorovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Darai-Pioz alkaline massif in the upper reaches of the Darai-Pioz river, Alaisky mountain ridge, Tien-Shan Mountains, Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the moraine of the Darai-Pioz glacier which erodes a multiphase, boron-enriched, alkaline intrusive complex. If you start seeing pectolite, quartz, sr-rich fluorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find khvorovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
