Nesquehonite is a rare magnesium carbonate mineral that typically forms as white, radiating clusters or crusts in the vicinity of serpentinite or within coal mine tailings. Collectors should look for delicate, needle-like crystals that often occur as a secondary alteration product of other magnesium minerals.
Is this nesquehonite?
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 nesquehonite with a known reference. Nesquehonite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nesquehonite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nesquehonite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, grayish-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular or radiating aggregates, crusts, prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Nesquehonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nesquehonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nesquehonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg(HCO₃)(OH)·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 1.84 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Radiating Aggregates, Crusts, Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Serpentinite Weathering Zones and Coal Mine Environments
- Typical price
- $15-60 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find nesquehonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, USA
- Cedars, California, USA
- Maderanilla, Spain
- Kozaki, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Look in serpentinite weathering zones and coal mine environments country, the host setting where nesquehonite typically forms. If you start seeing hydromagnesite, aragonite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or radiating aggregates, crusts, prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nesquehonite on the map
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