Serandite is a striking manganese-rich silicate primarily known for its beautiful salmon-pink to reddish-orange elongated crystals. It is most famous among collectors for the large, high-quality specimens recovered from the alkaline complexes at Mont Saint-Hilaire. It is typically found in pegmatitic pockets and miarolitic cavities associated with nepheline syenites.
Is this serandite?
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 serandite with a known reference. Serandite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Serandite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Serandite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, orange, red, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, bladed, tabular.
Often confused with
Serandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside serandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with serandite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Mn²⁺)₂Si₃O₈(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.31 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, Bladed, Tabular
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find serandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Kaso Mine, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where serandite typically forms. If you start seeing aegirine, microcline, analcime in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic, bladed, tabular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find serandite on the map
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