Loparite is a rare titanium-niobium oxide typically found as dark, pseudo-cubic crystals within alkaline pegmatites. It is highly valued by collectors for its distinctive twinning and complex chemical composition, which often includes significant rare earth elements.
Is this loparite?
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 loparite with a known reference. Loparite 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. Loparite leaves a brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Loparite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: pseudo-cubic crystals, penetration twins.
Often confused with
Loparite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Loparite leaves brown, Perovskite leaves white; luster reads metallic on Loparite and adamantine on Perovskite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Loparite leaves brown, Magnetite leaves black.
Often found alongside loparite
Minerals reported to co-occur with loparite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Ce,Ca,Sr)(Ti,Nb)O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 4.7-4.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo-cubic Crystals, Penetration Twins
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Source of Rare Earth Elements
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find loparite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Khibiny Massif, Russia
- Lovozero Massif, Russia
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where loparite typically forms. If you start seeing nepheline, aegirine, eudialyte in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pseudo-cubic crystals, penetration twins habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find loparite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
