Pavlovskyite is a rare calcium silicate fluoride mineral discovered in the contact-metamorphic rocks of the Sakha Republic in Russia. It typically occurs as small, colorless to pale yellow tabular crystals within skarn environments, often associated with other calcium-rich silicates.
Is this pavlovskyite?
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 pavlovskyite with a known reference. Pavlovskyite sits at Mohs 6-6.5, 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: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Pavlovskyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside pavlovskyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pavlovskyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₈(SiO₄)₂(Si₃O₁₀)
- Mohs hardness
- 6-6.5
- Density
- 2.97 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Uneven on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In veins cutting metasomatically altered silicate carbonate xenoliths in a gabbro massif (Birkhin massif); in cuspidine zones of altered carbonate xenoliths in ignimbrites (Upper Chegem caldera)
Where rockhounds find pavlovskyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Birkhin massif, Eastern Siberia, Olkhon region and the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Caucasus, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In veins cutting metasomatically altered silicate carbonate xenoliths in a gabbro massif (Birkhin massif); in cuspidine zones of altered carbonate xenoliths in ignimbrites (Upper Chegem caldera). If you start seeing dellaite, galuskinite, spurrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pavlovskyite?+
Where is pavlovskyite found?+
What rocks look like pavlovskyite?+
What minerals are found with pavlovskyite?+
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Find pavlovskyite on the map
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