Kurgantaite is a rare strontium borate mineral found in evaporite basins. Collectors should look for its characteristic tabular crystal habit or massive, granular white aggregates in salt-bearing sequences.
Is this kurgantaite?
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 kurgantaite with a known reference. Kurgantaite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Kurgantaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kurgantaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Kurgantaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside kurgantaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kurgantaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sr(B₅O₈)(OH)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find kurgantaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Inder Deposit, Kazakhstan
- Kurganta, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary evaporite deposits country, the host setting where kurgantaite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, gypsum, borax in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify kurgantaite?+
Where is kurgantaite found?+
How much is kurgantaite worth?+
What rocks look like kurgantaite?+
What minerals are found with kurgantaite?+
What kind of rock does kurgantaite form in?+
What is kurgantaite used for?+
Find kurgantaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
