Pautovite is an exceptionally rare cesium iron sulfide mineral found primarily in alkaline pegmatites. It typically occurs as small, tabular trigonal crystals that are dark steel-gray.
Is this pautovite?
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 pautovite with a known reference. Pautovite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark steel gray.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, prismatic.
Often confused with
Pautovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside pautovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pautovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CsFeFeS₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.85 g/cm³
- Colors
- Dark steel gray
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal assemblage typically as an overgrowth on needle-shaped to hair-like crystals of belovite-(Ce)
Where rockhounds find pautovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Palitra peralkaline pegmatite, Kedykverpakjk Mountain, Lovozero alkaline complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Hydrothermal assemblage typically as an overgrowth on needle-shaped to hair-like crystals of belovite-(Ce). If you start seeing aegirine, natrosilite, sodalite 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 pautovite?+
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What rocks look like pautovite?+
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Find pautovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
