Magbasite is a rare potassium-barium iron magnesium silicate primarily found in alkaline pegmatites of the Murun Massif in Siberia. It typically occurs as small, colorless to pinkish violetish prismatic crystals associated with unique silicate minerals like charoite.
Is this magbasite?
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 magbasite with a known reference. Magbasite sits at Mohs ~5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, pink violet.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous.
Often confused with
Magbasite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Magbasite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~5 vs. 2-3); luster reads vitreous on Magbasite and pearly to submetallic on cleavage on Phlogopite.
How to tell apart: Magbasite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~5 vs. 2.5-3); luster reads vitreous on Magbasite and splendent to submetallic, vitreous, pearly on cleavage on Biotite.
Often found alongside magbasite
Minerals reported to co-occur with magbasite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KBaFeMg₇Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂F₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~5
- Density
- 3.41 g/cm³
- Colors
- ColorlessPink violet
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In thin veins cutting ferrodolomite- and siderite-carbonatites (Canada)
Where rockhounds find magbasite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, China
- Eldor carbonatite complex, northeastern Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In thin veins cutting ferrodolomite- and siderite-carbonatites (Canada). If you start seeing phlogopite, quartz, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify magbasite?+
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What rocks look like magbasite?+
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Find magbasite on the map
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