Sakhaite is a rare borate mineral found almost exclusively in contact metasomatic skarn deposits. It is best identified by its bright yellow fluorescence under shortwave UV light and its occurrence alongside other magnesium-borate species.
Is this sakhaite?
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 sakhaite with a known reference. Sakhaite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sakhaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sakhaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rare dodecahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Sakhaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sakhaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sakhaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃Mg₄(BO₃)₃(CO₃)O
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 2.98 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rare Dodecahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Fluorescence
- Bright Yellow Under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Borate-bearing Skarns
- Typical price
- $20-150 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find sakhaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sakha Republic, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in borate-bearing skarns country — that is the host setting where sakhaite typically forms. If you start seeing calc-silicate skarns, szaibelyite, ludwigite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rare dodecahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sakhaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
