Oyelite is a rare calcium silicate hydrate typically found in skarn environments. Collectors should look for delicate white platy or radiating crystal sprays often associated with other rare calcium silicates.
Is this oyelite?
4-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 oyelite with a known reference. Oyelite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: acicular.
Often confused with
Oyelite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside oyelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with oyelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₅BSi₄O₁₃(OH)₃(H₂O)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.62 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A hydrothermal mineral in late-stage assemblages of several geological origins
Where rockhounds find oyelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Crestmore quarries, Riverside County, California, USA
- N’Chwaning II mine, Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa
- Bazhenovskoe chrysotile asbestos deposit, Asbest, Central Urals, Russia
- Japan at the Fuka Mine, Fuka, Bitchu-cho, Okayama Prefecture and at Suisho-dani, Ise City, Mie Prefecture
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A hydrothermal mineral in late-stage assemblages of several geological origins. If you start seeing tatarinovite, pectolite, xonotlite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify oyelite?+
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What rocks look like oyelite?+
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Find oyelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
