Natalyite is a rare sodium vanadium pyroxene characterized by its distinct, vivid emerald-green color due to vanadium substitution. It is primarily found as microscopic inclusions or small, anhedral grains within highly metamorphosed rocks, specifically in the Polar Urals region of Russia. Due to its scarcity, it is considered a highly specialized specimen for advanced mineral collectors.
Is this natalyite?
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 natalyite with a known reference. Natalyite sits at Mohs ~7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow green, light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Natalyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Natalyite leaves green, Jadeite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to silky on Natalyite and subvitreous, pearly on cleavages on Jadeite.
How to tell apart: Natalyite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~7 vs. 5-6); streak differs, so Natalyite leaves green, Omphacite leaves greenish white.
How to tell apart: Natalyite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~7 vs. ~6); streak differs, so Natalyite leaves green, Kosmochlor leaves light green.
Often found alongside natalyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with natalyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaVSi₂O₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~7
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Green
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- {110}, distinct; parting on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In Cr, V-rich diopside-quartz rocks that are part of a Precambrian metamorphic complex (Slyudyanka complex, Russia)
Where rockhounds find natalyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pereval marble quarry, near Slyudyanka, Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia
- Zaonezhki Peninsula, southern Karelia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In Cr, V-rich diopside-quartz rocks that are part of a Precambrian metamorphic complex (Slyudyanka complex, Russia). If you start seeing chromian vanadian tourmaline, pyrite, apatite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify natalyite?+
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Find natalyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
