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 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pavlovskyite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pavlovskyite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, pale yellow.
- 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(Si₂O₇)₂F₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Skarn
- Typical price
- expensive
Where rockhounds find pavlovskyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sakha Republic, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in skarn country — that is the host setting where pavlovskyite typically forms. If you start seeing wollastonite, gehlenite, fluorapatite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pavlovskyite?+
Where is pavlovskyite found?+
How much is pavlovskyite worth?+
What rocks look like pavlovskyite?+
What minerals are found with pavlovskyite?+
What kind of rock does pavlovskyite form in?+
What is pavlovskyite used for?+
Find pavlovskyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
