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