Saamite is a rare barium titanium niobium silicate that forms colorless to pale tan platy crystals. It occurs in a hydrothermally-altered pegmatite body emplaced in nepheline syenite. It was first described from Kirovskii mine, Mount Kukisvumchorr, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.
Is this saamite?
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 saamite with a known reference. Saamite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, pale tan.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Saamite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside saamite
Minerals reported to co-occur with saamite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba☐TiNbNa₃Ti(Si₂O₇)₂O₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 3.243 g/cm³
- Colors
- ColorlessPale tan
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect, on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermally-altered pegmatite body emplaced in nepheline syenite
Where rockhounds find saamite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kirovskii mine (+252 level), Mount Kukisvumchorr, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermally-altered pegmatite body emplaced in nepheline syenite. If you start seeing natrolite, barytolamprophyllite, kazanskyite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify saamite?+
Where is saamite found?+
What rocks look like saamite?+
What minerals are found with saamite?+
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Find saamite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
