Odintsovite is a very rare silicate mineral found in alkaline pegmatites. It typically occurs as small prismatic to acicular crystals, often forming attractive radial sprays or white to colorless aggregates.
Is this odintsovite?
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 odintsovite with a known reference. Odintsovite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Odintsovite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Odintsovite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Odintsovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside odintsovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with odintsovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₄Sr₂TiBe₄Si₆O₂₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and rarity
Where rockhounds find odintsovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dara-i-Pioz Glacier, Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline pegmatites country, the host setting where odintsovite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find odintsovite on the map
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