Magnesium is a rare native metal element that does not typically occur in its pure form in nature due to its high reactivity. It is found in a massive or granular state and is prized by collectors as a technical specimen rather than a typical ornamental stone.
Is this magnesium?
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 magnesium with a known reference. Magnesium sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Magnesium leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Magnesium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silvery-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, or tabular crystals.
Often found alongside magnesium
Minerals reported to co-occur with magnesium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 1.74 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Industrial, Alloys
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Deposits and Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen purity and size
Where rockhounds find magnesium
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Russia
- China
- United States
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal deposits and igneous rocks country — that is the host setting where magnesium typically forms. If you start seeing dolomite, magnesite, brucite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Nevada — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find magnesium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
