Murmanite is a rare phyllosilicate mineral that typically forms as soft, platy or micaceous masses within alkaline pegmatites. Collectors often identify it by its distinct pearly luster and thin, flexible plates that resemble dark mica when weathered.
Is this murmanite?
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 murmanite with a known reference. Murmanite sits at Mohs 2-3, 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 on cleavages, greasy on fractures.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, bright pink, silvery, yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive, tabular.
Often confused with
Murmanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Murmanite leaves white, Lomonosovite leaves light rose-cinnamon.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on cleavages, greasy on fractures on Murmanite and splendent to submetallic, vitreous, pearly on cleavage on Biotite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Murmanite leaves white, Astrophyllite leaves golden; luster reads vitreous on cleavages, greasy on fractures on Murmanite and submetallic, pearly, greasy on Astrophyllite.
Often found alongside murmanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with murmanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Ti₂Na₂Ti₂(Si₂O₇)₂O₄(H₂O)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.76-2.84 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous on cleavages, greasy on fractures
- Transparency
- Translucent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, tabular
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In pegmatites and associated igneous rocks of alkalic complexes, as a primary magmatic mineral or altered from lomonosovite
Where rockhounds find murmanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Chinglusuai Valley, on Mts. Flora, Punkaruaiv, and Angvundaschorr, Lovozero massif, and on Mts. Rasvumchorr and Koashva, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In pegmatites and associated igneous rocks of alkalic complexes, as a primary magmatic mineral or altered from lomonosovite. If you start seeing lomonosovite, aegirine, arfvedsonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify murmanite?+
Where is murmanite found?+
What rocks look like murmanite?+
What minerals are found with murmanite?+
What kind of rock does murmanite form in?+
What is murmanite used for?+
Find murmanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
