Reyerite is a rare phyllosilicate mineral that forms delicate, pearly-lustered platy or foliated aggregates. It is typically found lining cavities in basaltic rocks, often occurring in association with secondary minerals like gyrolite and apophyllite.
Is this reyerite?
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 reyerite with a known reference. Reyerite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Reyerite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Reyerite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, pale yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, foliated masses, rosettes.
Often confused with
Reyerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside reyerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with reyerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,K)₂Ca₁₄Si₂₂Al₂O₅₈(OH)₈·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 2.47 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Foliated Masses, Rosettes
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Basaltic Vugs and Cavities
- Typical price
- $20-150 for display specimens
Where rockhounds find reyerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Greenland
- Iceland
- India
- Scotland
- Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in basaltic vugs and cavities country, the host setting where reyerite typically forms. If you start seeing gyrolite, apophyllite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, foliated masses, rosettes habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify reyerite?+
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Find reyerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
