Meieranite is a rare sodium strontium magnesium silicate that forms light blue to blue isolated aggregates of grains. Associated minerals include sugilite, aegirine and pectolite. It was first described from Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.
Is this meieranite?
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 meieranite with a known reference. Meieranite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: isolated aggregates of grains.
Often confused with
Meieranite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Andradite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 5.5); luster reads vitreous on Meieranite and adamantine to resinous, dull on Andradite.
How to tell apart: Grossular is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 5.5).
Often found alongside meieranite
Minerals reported to co-occur with meieranite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Sr₃MgSi₆O₁₇
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 3.41 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Isolated aggregates of grains
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Probably a result of a hydrothermal event during metamorphism under conditions of 270-420 °C at 0.2-1.0 kb
Where rockhounds find meieranite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wessels mine, Kalahari Manganese Fields, Northern Cape Province, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Probably a result of a hydrothermal event during metamorphism under conditions of 270-420 °C at 0.2-1.0 kb. If you start seeing sugilite, aegirine, pectolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: isolated aggregates of grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify meieranite?+
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What rocks look like meieranite?+
What minerals are found with meieranite?+
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Find meieranite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
