Låvenite is a rare zirconium-rich silicate mineral primarily found in silica-undersaturated alkaline pegmatites. It is typically identified by its prismatic, yellowish to brownish crystals and its association with other rare zirconium and titanium minerals in complex igneous environments.
Is this låvenite?
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 låvenite with a known reference. Låvenite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, light yellow, dark yellow, brown, brownish red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: pistolitic, radial, tabular.
Often confused with
Låvenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside låvenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with låvenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Ca)₂(Mn,Fe)(Zr,Ti,Nb)(Si₂O₇)(O,F)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 3.4-3.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Pistolitic, radial, tabular
- Cleavage
- Good on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In alkalic rocks and related pegmatites
Where rockhounds find låvenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Granite Mountain, near Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, USA
- Låven and the Arø Islands, in the Langesundsfjord, Norway
- Isle of Ischia, near Naples, Campania, Italy
- Lovozero, Khibiny, and Kovdor massifs, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Burpala massif, about 120 km north of Lake Baikal, and from Zaangar'ya, Yenisei Ridge, Siberia, Russia
- Kruft, Mendig, and other places in the Laacher Kessel, Eifel district, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In alkalic rocks and related pegmatites. If you start seeing feldspars, nepheline, titanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pistolitic, radial, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify låvenite?+
Where is låvenite found?+
Is låvenite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like låvenite?+
What minerals are found with låvenite?+
What kind of rock does låvenite form in?+
What is låvenite used for?+
Find låvenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
