Litidionite is a rare copper-bearing silicate mineral typically occurring as pale blue, tabular, or fibrous crystals. It is primarily found in volcanic environments or within alkaline igneous complexes, often associated with other rare silicate minerals.
Is this litidionite?
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 litidionite with a known reference. Litidionite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: bluish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Litidionite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Litidionite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-6 vs. ~2-4); streak differs, so Litidionite leaves bluish white, Chrysocolla leaves white when pure.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Litidionite leaves bluish white, Turquoise leaves white to pale greenish blue.
Often found alongside litidionite
Minerals reported to co-occur with litidionite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KNaCuSi₄O₁₀
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 2.75 g/cm³
- Streak
- Bluish white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- volcanic fumaroles, alkaline igneous rocks
Where rockhounds find litidionite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vesuvius, Campania, Italy (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: volcanic fumaroles, alkaline igneous rocks. If you start seeing sanidine, augite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find litidionite on the map
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