Olenite is a rare aluminum-rich member of the tourmaline group, typically found in evolved pegmatites. It is often identified by its characteristic pink to colorless hues and occurs as elongated prismatic crystals, frequently requiring chemical analysis to distinguish from other tourmaline species.
Is this olenite?
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 olenite with a known reference. Olenite sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic.
Often confused with
Olenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside olenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with olenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Al₃)Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(O)₃(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.010 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, prismatic
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In pegmatitic veins crosscutting Precambrian metasediments
Where rockhounds find olenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Oleny Ridge, Voroni massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In pegmatitic veins crosscutting Precambrian metasediments. If you start seeing elbaite, quartz, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify olenite?+
Where is olenite found?+
What rocks look like olenite?+
What minerals are found with olenite?+
What kind of rock does olenite form in?+
What is olenite used for?+
Find olenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
