Murakamiite is a rare lithium-bearing silicate mineral belonging to the pectolite group. It typically occurs as delicate, fibrous radiating clusters or masses and is primarily known from specific alkaline pegmatite environments.
Is this murakamiite?
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 murakamiite with a known reference. Murakamiite 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. Murakamiite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Murakamiite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: fibrous, acicular, radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Murakamiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside murakamiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with murakamiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- LiCa₂Si₃O₈(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.88 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, Acicular, Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find murakamiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Murakami mine, Fukui Prefecture, Japan
- Poudrette Quarry, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where murakamiite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, albite, apophyllite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous, acicular, radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find murakamiite on the map
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