Schiavinatoite is a rare niobium-tantalum borate mineral primarily found in pegmatite deposits. It typically forms small, sharp bipyramidal crystals that are highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors for their scarcity and unique chemical composition.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrareBorate Group family

Schiavinatoite

Hardness: ~8
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this schiavinatoite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch schiavinatoite with a known reference. Schiavinatoite sits at Mohs ~8, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: grayish pink.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: granular.

Often confused with

Schiavinatoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside schiavinatoite

Minerals reported to co-occur with schiavinatoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: NbBO₄
Mohs hardness: ~8
Density: 6.548 g/cm³
Colors: Grayish pink
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Tetragonal
Crystal habit: Granular
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Very rare in miarolitic cavities in a pegmatite dike

Where rockhounds find schiavinatoite

Classic worldwide localities

Antsongombato, south of Betafo, Madagascar

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Very rare in miarolitic cavities in a pegmatite dike. If you start seeing béhierite, rhodizite, elbaite–liddicoatite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify schiavinatoite?+

Mohs hardness is ~8. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include grayish pink.

Where is schiavinatoite found?+

Notable localities include Antsongombato, south of Betafo, Madagascar.

What rocks look like schiavinatoite?+

Schiavinatoite is most often confused with Zircon. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with schiavinatoite?+

Schiavinatoite commonly co-occurs with Béhierite, Rhodizite, Elbaite–liddicoatite, Spodumene, Pollucite, Danburite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does schiavinatoite form in?+

Where it forms: Very rare in miarolitic cavities in a pegmatite dike. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is schiavinatoite used for?+

Schiavinatoite is used in collector.

Find schiavinatoite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.