Lintonite is a green, fibrous variety of the zeolite mineral Thomsonite-Ca. It is best known for forming attractive radiating, globular aggregates found within the cavities of amygdaloidal basalt along the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Hardness

5-5.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineraluncommonThomsonite-Ca family

Lintonite

Also: Green Thomsonite

Hardness: 5-5.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

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Is this lintonite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch lintonite with a known reference. Lintonite sits at Mohs 5-5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lintonite leaves a white streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Lintonite typically shows a vitreous luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: green, yellow-green, blue-green.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: radial fibrous, radiating spherulitic aggregates.

Often confused with

Lintonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside lintonite

Minerals reported to co-occur with lintonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: NaCa₂Al₅Si₅O₂₀·6H₂O
Mohs hardness: 5-5.5
Density: 2.3-2.4 g/cm³
Colors: Green Yellow-green Blue-green
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Radial Fibrous, Radiating Spherulitic Aggregates
Cleavage: Perfect
Rarity: Uncommon
Uses: Collector, Lapidary
Host rock: Basaltic Lava Flows
Typical price: $10-50 per specimen

Where rockhounds find lintonite

2 mapped spots

Classic worldwide localities

Grand Marais, Minnesota
North Shore of Lake Superior, USA

Field-hunting tip

Look in basaltic lava flows country, the host setting where lintonite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, quartz, datolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a radial fibrous, radiating spherulitic aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Minnesota. Start trip planning there.

Browse 2 U.S. spots for lintonite →

Common questions

How do you identify lintonite?+

Mohs hardness is 5-5.5. It typically shows a vitreous luster. The streak is white. Common colors include green, yellow-green, blue-green.

Where is lintonite found?+

Notable localities include Grand Marais, Minnesota; North Shore of Lake Superior, USA.

Can I find lintonite in the United States?+

RockHoundR maps 2 lintonite rockhounding spots across 1 U.S. states. The top states are Minnesota.

How much is lintonite worth?+

Typical asking prices fall in the range of $10-50 per specimen. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.

What rocks look like lintonite?+

Lintonite is most often confused with Prehnite, Epidote, Thomsonite-Ca. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with lintonite?+

Lintonite commonly co-occurs with Calcite, Quartz, Datolite, Laumontite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does lintonite form in?+

Lintonite typically forms in basaltic lava flows. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is lintonite used for?+

Lintonite is used in collector, lapidary.

Find lintonite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.