Leucite is a rock-forming mineral recognized by its distinctive trapezohedral crystal habit, which often appears as isometric crystals that are actually pseudocubic. It is primarily found in potassium-rich volcanic rocks and is often discovered in altered, cloudy, or white-colored masses within lava flows.
Is this leucite?
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 leucite with a known reference. Leucite sits at Mohs 5.5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Leucite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Leucite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: trapezohedral crystals.
Often confused with
Leucite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside leucite
Minerals reported to co-occur with leucite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KAlSi₂O₆
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 2.45-2.50 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Trapezohedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Potassium-rich Volcanic Rocks
- Typical price
- $5-50 thumbnail, $20-150 cabinet
Where rockhounds find leucite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vesuvius, Italy
- Eifel Mountains, Germany
- Leucite Hills, Wyoming, USA
- Mount Nyiragongo, DR Congo
Field-hunting tip
Look in potassium-rich volcanic rocks country — that is the host setting where leucite typically forms. If you start seeing nepheline, sanidine, augite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a trapezohedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find leucite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
