Rossovskyite is a rare iron niobium oxide that forms black flattened anhedral grains. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2014. It was first described from Found at the Bulgut occurrence, Altai Mts., Western Mongolia.
Is this rossovskyite?
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 rossovskyite with a known reference. Rossovskyite 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. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: semi-metallic to dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: flattened anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Rossovskyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Rossovskyite leaves black, Rutile leaves pale brown, yellowish brown; gray, greenish black with high nb–ta; luster reads semi-metallic to dull on Rossovskyite and adamantine to submetallic on Rutile.
How to tell apart: Luster reads semi-metallic to dull on Rossovskyite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
Often found alongside rossovskyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rossovskyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺NbO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 6.06 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Semi-metallic to dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Flattened anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a lens-shaped, zoned pegmatite body at the contact of porphyritic biotite granite with crystalline schist
Where rockhounds find rossovskyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found at the Bulgut occurrence, Altai Mts., Western Mongolia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a lens-shaped, zoned pegmatite body at the contact of porphyritic biotite granite with crystalline schist. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: flattened anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify rossovskyite?+
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Find rossovskyite on the map
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