Nifontovite is a rare calcium borate mineral typically found in complex skarn environments. It is most easily identified by its colorless to white prismatic or tabular crystal habits, often occurring as delicate clusters within host rocks like charoite or limestone.
Is this nifontovite?
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 nifontovite with a known reference. Nifontovite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nifontovite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nifontovite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, massive.
Often confused with
Nifontovite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nifontovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nifontovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃B₆O₁₂(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.39 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Radiating Aggregates, Massive
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Skarn Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find nifontovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Nifontovskoye deposit, Siberia, Russia
- Charoite deposits, Sakha Republic, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in skarn deposits country — that is the host setting where nifontovite typically forms. If you start seeing charoite, datolite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nifontovite?+
Where is nifontovite found?+
How much is nifontovite worth?+
What rocks look like nifontovite?+
What minerals are found with nifontovite?+
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Find nifontovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
