Schorl is the most abundant species of the tourmaline group, easily recognized by its deep black color and striated, prismatic crystals. It is frequently found in granitic pegmatites and is a staple specimen for almost every mineral collection due to its durability and distinct habit.
Is this schorl?
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 schorl with a known reference. Schorl sits at Mohs 7-7.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Schorl leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Schorl typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with characteristic rounded triangular cross-sections, often vertically striated.
Often confused with
Schorl vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Schorl is noticeably harder (Mohs 7-7.5 vs. 5.5-6); streak differs — Schorl leaves white, Arfvedsonite leaves grey to bluish-grey.
How to tell apart: Schorl is noticeably harder (Mohs 7-7.5 vs. 5-6); streak differs — Schorl leaves white, Hornblende leaves grayish-white.
How to tell apart: Schorl is noticeably harder (Mohs 7-7.5 vs. 5.5-6); streak differs — Schorl leaves white, Augite leaves grayish white.
Often found alongside schorl
Minerals reported to co-occur with schorl. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaFe²⁺₃Al₆(Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃F
- Mohs hardness
- 7-7.5
- Density
- 3.2-3.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals with Characteristic Rounded Triangular Cross-sections, Often Vertically Striated
- Cleavage
- Indistinct
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary, Decorative
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Veins, And Metamorphic Schists
- Typical price
- $5-50 thumbnail, $20-200 cabinet specimen
Where rockhounds find schorl
9 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Erongo Mountains, Namibia
- Pederneira Mine, Brazil
- Karur, India
- Binn Valley, Switzerland
- Cornwall, England
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and metamorphic schists country — that is the host setting where schorl typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals with characteristic rounded triangular cross-sections, often vertically striated habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Maine, Arizona, California — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find schorl on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
