Lingunite is a rare member of the amphibole group, specifically a variety within the tschermakite series. It is typically found in medium to high-grade metamorphic rocks and is identified by its dark, prismatic habit and characteristic amphibole cleavage.
Is this lingunite?
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 lingunite with a known reference. Lingunite sits at Mohs 6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Lingunite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lingunite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lingunite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaAlSi₃O₈
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.3-3.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Inclusions, microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Intimately intergrown with feldspathic glass in shock-induced melt veins
Where rockhounds find lingunite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sixiangkou L6 chondrite (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Intimately intergrown with feldspathic glass in shock-induced melt veins. If you start seeing plagioclase, quartz, garnet in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: inclusions, microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lingunite?+
Where is lingunite found?+
What rocks look like lingunite?+
What minerals are found with lingunite?+
What kind of rock does lingunite form in?+
What is lingunite used for?+
Find lingunite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
