Nasinite is a rare hydrous sodium borate mineral found in specific arid evaporite environments. It typically occurs as small tabular crystals or crusts associated with other complex borate species in dried lake bed deposits.
Is this nasinite?
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 nasinite with a known reference. Nasinite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nasinite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nasinite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, crusts.
Often confused with
Nasinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Nasinite and vitreous to earthy on Borax.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Nasinite and vitreous to pearly on Kernite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Nasinite and silky on Ulexite.
Often found alongside nasinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nasinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂B₅O₈(OH)·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.79 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find nasinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Boron, California, USA
- Turkey
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits country — that is the host setting where nasinite typically forms. If you start seeing borax, kernite, ulexite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nasinite?+
Where is nasinite found?+
How much is nasinite worth?+
What rocks look like nasinite?+
What minerals are found with nasinite?+
What kind of rock does nasinite form in?+
What is nasinite used for?+
Find nasinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
