Komarovite is a rare niobate-silicate mineral typically found in the alkaline pegmatites of the Kola Peninsula. It often appears as small, platy, light-colored crystals or radial clusters associated with other rare earth minerals.
Is this komarovite?
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 komarovite with a known reference. Komarovite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, 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: dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, light brown, light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: foliated, massive, platy.
Often confused with
Komarovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Labuntsovite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 1.5-2); luster reads dull on Komarovite and greasy on Labuntsovite.
How to tell apart: Nenadkevichite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 1.5-2); luster reads dull on Komarovite and vitreous to dull on Nenadkevichite.
Often found alongside komarovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with komarovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Sr,Na)₆-x(Nb,Ti)₆(Si₄O₁₂)(O,OH,F)₁₆·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 3.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Foliated, massive, platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}, fair on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- With late albite and redeposited fine-grained natrolite in alkalic rocks in a differentiated alkalic massif
Where rockhounds find komarovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Karnasurt, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Ilímaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: With late albite and redeposited fine-grained natrolite in alkalic rocks in a differentiated alkalic massif. If you start seeing natrolite, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: foliated, massive, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify komarovite?+
Where is komarovite found?+
Is komarovite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like komarovite?+
What minerals are found with komarovite?+
What kind of rock does komarovite form in?+
What is komarovite used for?+
Find komarovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
