Sheldrickite is a rare carbonate mineral primarily found in the complex alkaline rocks of the Poudrette quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire. It typically forms small, distinct rhombohedral crystals with a warm, yellowish-brown hue, often associated with other rare-earth minerals.
Is this sheldrickite?
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 sheldrickite with a known reference. Sheldrickite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sheldrickite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sheldrickite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: rhombohedral crystals.
Often confused with
Sheldrickite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sheldrickite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sheldrickite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCa₃(CO₃)₃F
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Rhombohedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Intrusions
- Typical price
- $50-300+ depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find sheldrickite
Classic worldwide localities
- Poudrette quarry, Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous intrusions country — that is the host setting where sheldrickite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a rhombohedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sheldrickite on the map
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