Krasnovite is a rare barium aluminum phosphate mineral typically found as delicate, acicular needle-like crystals. Collectors usually find it occurring in small radiating sprays or tufts within hydrothermal veins, often associated with phosphate-rich pegmatite environments.
Is this krasnovite?
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 krasnovite with a known reference. Krasnovite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous, spherical.
Often confused with
Krasnovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Wavellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); luster reads silky on Krasnovite and vitreous to resinous, pearly on Wavellite.
How to tell apart: Vauxite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); luster reads silky on Krasnovite and vitreous on Vauxite.
Often found alongside krasnovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with krasnovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba(Al,Mg)(PO₄,CO₃)(OH)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.70 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, spherical
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare mineral from an iron ore deposit in a carbonatized ultramafic-alkalic intrusive
Where rockhounds find krasnovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Iron mine, Kovdor massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare mineral from an iron ore deposit in a carbonatized ultramafic-alkalic intrusive. If you start seeing dolomite, manasseite, carbonate-apatite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous, spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify krasnovite?+
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Find krasnovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
