Lorenzenite is a rare titanium-rich silicate mineral found primarily in alkaline igneous environments. It typically forms elongated, prismatic, reddish-brown crystals that can be highly prized by systematic mineral collectors.
Is this lorenzenite?
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 lorenzenite with a known reference. Lorenzenite 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: light brownish yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, adamantine to submetallic, or silky, dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, colorless, green, white, light blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, granular, massive.
Often confused with
Lorenzenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lorenzenite leaves light brownish yellow, Aegirine leaves pale yellowish gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lorenzenite leaves light brownish yellow, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads vitreous, adamantine to submetallic, or silky, dull on Lorenzenite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
Often found alongside lorenzenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lorenzenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Ti₂Si₂O₉
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.42-3.45 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light brownish yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous, adamantine to submetallic, or silky, dull
- Transparency
- Transparent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, granular, massive
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {010}
- Fluorescence
- Cream pale yellow under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In nepheline syenites and their associated pegmatites
Where rockhounds find lorenzenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Point of Rocks, Colfax Co., New Mexico, and in the Diamond Jo quarry, Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas, USA
- Narssârssuk and in the Gardiner complex, beyond the head of Kangerdlugssuaq Fjord, Greenland
- Mt. Karnasurt, Lovozero massif, in the Khibiny massif, and the Kondor massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Inagli, Konder, and Murun massifs, near Aldan, Yakutia, Russia
- Lågendalen, near Larvik, and on Låven Island, Langesundsfjord, Norway
- Mont Saint-Hilaire and near Saint-Amable, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In nepheline syenites and their associated pegmatites. If you start seeing aegirine, nepheline, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lorenzenite?+
Where is lorenzenite found?+
What rocks look like lorenzenite?+
What minerals are found with lorenzenite?+
What kind of rock does lorenzenite form in?+
What is lorenzenite used for?+
Find lorenzenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
