Nekoite is a rare calcium silicate mineral typically found in cavities within contact-metamorphosed limestone. Collectors look for its delicate, white, bladed or fibrous crystal clusters that often form radiating spray habits.
Is this nekoite?
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 nekoite with a known reference. Nekoite 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. Nekoite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nekoite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: bladed crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous.
Often confused with
Nekoite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nekoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nekoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃Si₆O₁₅·7H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 2.26 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed Crystals, Radial Aggregates, Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Limestone
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find nekoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Goodsprings, Nevada, USA
- Santa Monica Mountains, California, USA
- Crestmore, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed limestone country — that is the host setting where nekoite typically forms. If you start seeing apophyllite, calcite, prehnite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a bladed crystals, radial aggregates, fibrous habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nekoite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
