Schäferite is a rare vanadate member of the garnet group typically found in combustion metamorphic environments. It is characterized by its small, well-formed dodecahedral yellow crystals found in the Hatrurim Formation of Israel. It is highly sought after by collectors of rare mineral species due to its restricted occurrence.
Is this schäferite?
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 schäferite with a known reference. Schäferite sits at Mohs ~5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Schäferite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside schäferite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schäferite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCa₂Mg₂(VO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- ~5
- Density
- 3.40 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a small cavity in a silicate xenolith in leucite tephrite lava (Germany); as a sublimate near an active volcanic fumarole (Russia); in metallurgical slags (Greece)
Where rockhounds find schäferite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bellberg volcano, near Mayen, Eifel district, Germany (type locality)
- Arsenatnaya fumarole, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia
- Lavrion mining district, Greece
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a small cavity in a silicate xenolith in leucite tephrite lava (Germany); as a sublimate near an active volcanic fumarole (Russia); in metallurgical slags (Greece). If you start seeing sillimanite, quartz, enstatite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: octahedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify schäferite?+
Where is schäferite found?+
Is schäferite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like schäferite?+
What minerals are found with schäferite?+
What kind of rock does schäferite form in?+
What is schäferite used for?+
Find schäferite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
