Nabimusaite is a very rare silicate mineral found in the Hatrurim Basin, formed through combustion metamorphism. It typically occurs as small tabular crystals or crusts associated with other high-temperature, low-pressure minerals in thermally metamorphosed limestone. Due to its extreme rarity and very restricted locality, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this nabimusaite?
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 nabimusaite with a known reference. Nabimusaite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates.
Often confused with
Nabimusaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nabimusaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nabimusaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KCa₁₂(SiO₄)₄(SO₄)₂O₂F
- Mohs hardness
- ~5
- Density
- 3.119 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, tabular aggregates
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {001}; pronounced parting on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- High-temperature syn-pyrometamorphic alteration of primary ye’elimite-larnite rocks during combustion events as a result of the reaction of potassium-enriched, sulfate-bearing melt with larnite and ellestadite
Where rockhounds find nabimusaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hatrurim Formation, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: High-temperature syn-pyrometamorphic alteration of primary ye’elimite-larnite rocks during combustion events as a result of the reaction of potassium-enriched, sulfate-bearing melt with larnite and ellestadite. If you start seeing larnite, ye’elimite, brownmillerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nabimusaite?+
Where is nabimusaite found?+
What rocks look like nabimusaite?+
What minerals are found with nabimusaite?+
What kind of rock does nabimusaite form in?+
What is nabimusaite used for?+
Find nabimusaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
