Rorisite is a very rare calcium fluoride chloride mineral that typically occurs in skarn environments formed by contact metamorphism. It is most often found as small, white to colorless tabular crystals or granular aggregates, requiring microscopic examination or X-ray diffraction for definitive identification in the field.
Is this rorisite?
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 rorisite with a known reference. Rorisite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Rorisite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rorisite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Rorisite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside rorisite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rorisite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaFCl
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.17 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Skarn Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find rorisite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kopparberg, Sweden
- Fuka mine, Japan
- Kilchoan, Scotland
Field-hunting tip
Look in skarn deposits country — that is the host setting where rorisite typically forms. If you start seeing fluorite, calcite, bultfonteinite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rorisite on the map
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