Lueshite is a rare niobium-bearing mineral typically found as small, black, pseudo-cubic crystals in alkaline igneous complexes. Collectors often search for it in syenitic pegmatites or carbonatites where it occurs alongside other exotic silicate and oxide minerals.
Is this lueshite?
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 lueshite with a known reference. Lueshite 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. Lueshite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lueshite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: cubic to pseudo-cubic crystals, sometimes elongated or flattened.
Often confused with
Lueshite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lueshite leaves black, Perovskite leaves white; luster reads submetallic on Lueshite and adamantine on Perovskite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lueshite leaves black, Loparite leaves brown; luster reads submetallic on Lueshite and metallic on Loparite.
Often found alongside lueshite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lueshite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaNbO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 4.9-5.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Cubic to Pseudo-cubic Crystals, Sometimes Elongated or Flattened
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find lueshite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lovozero Massif, Russia
- Khibiny Massif, Russia
- Oka complex, Canada
- Magnet Cove, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where lueshite typically forms. If you start seeing aegirine, nepheline, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a cubic to pseudo-cubic crystals, sometimes elongated or flattened habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find lueshite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
