Natroxalate is a rare oxalate mineral found primarily in hyper-alkaline environments like the Khibiny Massif. It typically occurs as small tabular crystals or crusts associated with other rare alkaline minerals in pegmatite complexes.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Natroxalate

Hardness: 3
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this natroxalate?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch natroxalate with a known reference. Natroxalate sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white, light yellow.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.

Often confused with

Natroxalate vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Weddellite is the harder of the two (Mohs ~4 vs. 3).

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Often found alongside natroxalate

Minerals reported to co-occur with natroxalate. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Na₂C₂O₄
Mohs hardness: 3
Density: 2.32 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White Light yellow
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, massive, granular
Cleavage: On {100}, perfect; on {001} and {221}, distinct
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In a hydrothermally altered pegmatite in a differentiated alkalic massif

Where rockhounds find natroxalate

Classic worldwide localities

Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a hydrothermally altered pegmatite in a differentiated alkalic massif. If you start seeing aegirine, albite, elpidite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify natroxalate?+

Mohs hardness is 3. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white, light yellow.

Where is natroxalate found?+

Notable localities include Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.

What rocks look like natroxalate?+

Natroxalate is most often confused with Whewellite, Weddellite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with natroxalate?+

Natroxalate commonly co-occurs with Aegirine, Albite, Elpidite, Natron, Nenadkevichite, Taeniolite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does natroxalate form in?+

Where it forms: In a hydrothermally altered pegmatite in a differentiated alkalic massif. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is natroxalate used for?+

Natroxalate is used in collector.

Find natroxalate on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.