Natrolemoynite is a rare hydrated sodium zirconium silicate mineral typically found in miarolitic cavities within alkaline igneous rocks. Collectors primarily seek it at the famous Mont Saint-Hilaire locality, where it occurs as delicate, transparent prismatic crystals often associated with other rare alkaline silicates.
Is this natrolemoynite?
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 natrolemoynite with a known reference. Natrolemoynite sits at Mohs 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 to subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: aggregates, bladed, radial.
Often confused with
Natrolemoynite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside natrolemoynite
Minerals reported to co-occur with natrolemoynite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₄Zr₂Si₁₀O₂₆(H₂O)₇·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.47 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to subadamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, bladed, radial
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100} and {010}, poor on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Late stage in pegmatite cutting nepheline syenite
Where rockhounds find natrolemoynite
Classic worldwide localities
- Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Rouville County, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Late stage in pegmatite cutting nepheline syenite. If you start seeing microcline, lemoynite, lepidocrocite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, bladed, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify natrolemoynite?+
Where is natrolemoynite found?+
What rocks look like natrolemoynite?+
What minerals are found with natrolemoynite?+
What kind of rock does natrolemoynite form in?+
What is natrolemoynite used for?+
Find natrolemoynite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
