Perovskite is a calcium titanium oxide mineral known for its distinctive pseudocubic crystal habit and brilliant adamantine luster. It is most often found in mafic or alkaline igneous rocks and is highly valued by collectors for its sharp, well-formed geometry.
Is this perovskite?
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 perovskite with a known reference. Perovskite sits at Mohs 5.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Perovskite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Perovskite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown, yellow, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: cubic crystals, pseudocubic, granular.
Often confused with
Perovskite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Perovskite leaves white, Manaccanite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Perovskite and submetallic on Manaccanite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Perovskite leaves white, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Perovskite and metallic on Magnetite.
Often found alongside perovskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with perovskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaTiO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 4.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Cubic Crystals, Pseudocubic, Granular
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks, Contact Metamorphosed Limestones
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find perovskite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Zermatt, Switzerland
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA
- Val di Susa, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks, contact metamorphosed limestones country — that is the host setting where perovskite typically forms. If you start seeing chlorite, calcite, diopside in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a cubic crystals, pseudocubic, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Arkansas — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify perovskite?+
Where is perovskite found?+
Can I find perovskite in the United States?+
How much is perovskite worth?+
What rocks look like perovskite?+
What minerals are found with perovskite?+
What kind of rock does perovskite form in?+
What is perovskite used for?+
Find perovskite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
