Leucophanite is a rare beryllium silicate mineral most often found as transparent to translucent tabular, greenish-yellow crystals. It is highly prized by collectors for its strong luminescence under ultraviolet light and its distinctive lamellar structure. It is most famously recovered from the rare-alkaline pegmatites of the Langesundsfjord district in Norway.
Is this leucophanite?
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 leucophanite with a known reference. Leucophanite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Leucophanite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Leucophanite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow, white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, prismatic, lamellar.
Often confused with
Leucophanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside leucophanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with leucophanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCaBeSi₂O₆F
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 2.96-3.00 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Prismatic, Lamellar
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Fluorescence
- Blue or Violet Under UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Specimen
- Host rock
- Syenite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and clarity
Where rockhounds find leucophanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Langesundsfjord (Norway)
- Kola Peninsula (Russia)
- Mont Saint-Hilaire (Canada)
Field-hunting tip
Look in syenite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where leucophanite typically forms. If you start seeing aegirine, albite, eudialyte in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, prismatic, lamellar habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify leucophanite?+
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Find leucophanite on the map
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