Lithosite is an extremely rare potassium sodium aluminum silicate mineral found almost exclusively in the alkaline rocks of the Ilimaussaq complex in Greenland. It typically occurs as white or colorless prismatic crystals embedded within a matrix of other rare-earth minerals. Due to its limited distribution, it is highly sought after by advanced collectors of alkaline-suite minerals.
Is this lithosite?
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 lithosite with a known reference. Lithosite sits at Mohs 5.5, 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: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: irregular grains.
Often confused with
Lithosite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lithosite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lithosite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₃Al₂Si₄O₁₂(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 2.51 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Irregular grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral from the weathering of ultraperalkalic pegmatite veins cutting nepheline syenites in a differentiated alkalic massif
Where rockhounds find lithosite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vuonnemiok River region, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral from the weathering of ultraperalkalic pegmatite veins cutting nepheline syenites in a differentiated alkalic massif. If you start seeing shafranovskite, lomonosovite, lamprophyllite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find lithosite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
