Lakargiite is a rare zirconium-bearing mineral of the perovskite group, first discovered in the North Caucasus region of Russia. It typically occurs as minute, highly refractive grains within skarn-like xenoliths found in volcanic rocks. Collectors prize it for its unique composition and its association with other rare high-temperature minerals.
Is this lakargiite?
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 lakargiite with a known reference. Lakargiite sits at Mohs 8-9, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light-brown to cream-white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to adamantine, submetallic for dark varieties.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red brown, yellowish, almost clear.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: pseudo cubic.
Often confused with
Lakargiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Lakargiite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8-9 vs. 5.5); streak differs, so Lakargiite leaves light-brown to cream-white, Perovskite leaves white to grayish white; luster reads vitreous to adamantine, submetallic for dark varieties on Lakargiite and adamantine to metallic; may be dull on Perovskite.
How to tell apart: Lakargiite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8-9 vs. 6.5); streak differs, so Lakargiite leaves light-brown to cream-white, Baddeleyite leaves white to brownish white; luster reads vitreous to adamantine, submetallic for dark varieties on Lakargiite and greasy to vitreous; nearly submetallic in black crystals on Baddeleyite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lakargiite leaves light-brown to cream-white, Zircon leaves white.
Often found alongside lakargiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lakargiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaZrO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 8-9
- Density
- 4.587 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light-brown to cream-white
- Luster
- Vitreous to adamantine, submetallic for dark varieties
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo cubic
- Cleavage
- On {110} and {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In high-temperature skarns formed in sanidinite-facies conditions of contact metamorphism in carbonate-silicate rocks occurring as xenoliths in ignimbrites
Where rockhounds find lakargiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Verkhnechegemskiy volcanic structure, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Caucasus, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In high-temperature skarns formed in sanidinite-facies conditions of contact metamorphism in carbonate-silicate rocks occurring as xenoliths in ignimbrites. If you start seeing spurrite, larnite, calcio-olivine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudo cubic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lakargiite?+
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What rocks look like lakargiite?+
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Find lakargiite on the map
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