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 — that is 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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