Orlovite is a very rare potassium-lithium-titanium mica mineral primarily found in the Murun Massif in Siberia. It typically occurs as small, pale, platy crystals within alkaline igneous rock environments and is primarily sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this orlovite?
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 orlovite with a known reference. Orlovite sits at Mohs 2-3, 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 to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Orlovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside orlovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with orlovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KLi₂Ti(Si₄O₁₀)(OF)
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.91 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a glacial moraine boulder of 80% coarse-grained quartz
Where rockhounds find orlovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Darai-Pioz alkaline massif, at the junction of the Turkestan, Zeravshan, and Alay Mountain Ranges, Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a glacial moraine boulder of 80% coarse-grained quartz. If you start seeing pectolite, quartz, baratovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify orlovite?+
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What rocks look like orlovite?+
What minerals are found with orlovite?+
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Find orlovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
