Maleevite is an extremely rare borosilicate mineral found almost exclusively in the Murun Massif of Russia. It is a member of the Danburite group and typically occurs as transparent, prismatic to tabular crystals embedded in alkaline rocks. Collectors prize it for its unique chemical composition and restricted geographic occurrence.
Is this maleevite?
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 maleevite with a known reference. Maleevite sits at Mohs 7, 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, slightly greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: blocky, euhedral crystals.
Often confused with
Maleevite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside maleevite
Minerals reported to co-occur with maleevite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaB₂Si₂O₈
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.78 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, slightly greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Blocky, euhedral crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a slightly rounded block of pegmatite in syenite within a boulder in the moraine of the Dara-i-Pioz glacier, Alai mountain range, Tien Shan, northern Tajikistan
Where rockhounds find maleevite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dara-i-Pioz glacier, Alai mountain range, Tien Shan, northern Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a slightly rounded block of pegmatite in syenite within a boulder in the moraine of the Dara-i-Pioz glacier, Alai mountain range, Tien Shan, northern Tajikistan. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: blocky, euhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify maleevite?+
Where is maleevite found?+
What rocks look like maleevite?+
What minerals are found with maleevite?+
What kind of rock does maleevite form in?+
What is maleevite used for?+
Find maleevite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
