Sabinaite is an extremely rare carbonate mineral found primarily in alkaline intrusive complexes. It typically presents as delicate, white to colorless platy crystals and is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors for its unique structural chemistry.
Is this sabinaite?
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 sabinaite with a known reference. Sabinaite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sabinaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sabinaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, light gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular, clusters.
Often confused with
Sabinaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sabinaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sabinaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₄Zr₂Ti₂O₄(CO₃)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Tabular, Clusters
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Intrusions
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find sabinaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Saint-Amable sill, Canada
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous intrusions country — that is the host setting where sabinaite typically forms. If you start seeing dawsonite, analcime, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, tabular, clusters habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sabinaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
