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 — Lueshite leaves black, Perovskite leaves white; luster reads submetallic on Lueshite and adamantine on Perovskite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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.
