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 4-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nabimusaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nabimusaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. 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
- KCa₁₂Si₄O₄(SO₄)₄(CO₃)₄F₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 2.81 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Tabular Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Pyrometamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- expensive
Where rockhounds find nabimusaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hatrurim Formation, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Look in pyrometamorphic rocks country, the host setting where nabimusaite typically forms. If you start seeing ettringite, calcite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, tabular aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nabimusaite?+
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How much is nabimusaite worth?+
What rocks look like nabimusaite?+
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Find nabimusaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
