Shirokshinite is a rare mica mineral found primarily in alkaline igneous massifs. It typically occurs as small, colorless to white platy crystals and is characterized by its distinct chemical composition involving titanium and sodium.
Is this shirokshinite?
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 shirokshinite with a known reference. Shirokshinite sits at Mohs ~2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, pale gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, pseudo hexagonal, skeletal.
Often confused with
Shirokshinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside shirokshinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with shirokshinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K(Mg₂Na)Si₄O₁₀F₂
- Mohs hardness
- ~2.5
- Density
- 2.922 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, pseudo hexagonal, skeletal
- Cleavage
- Perfect {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late hydrothermal mineral in cavities within a hyperalkaline pegmatite embedded in ristschorrite in an alkaline massif
Where rockhounds find shirokshinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kirovskii apatite mine, Kukisvumchorr Mountain, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late hydrothermal mineral in cavities within a hyperalkaline pegmatite embedded in ristschorrite in an alkaline massif. If you start seeing microcline, kupletskite, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, pseudo hexagonal, skeletal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify shirokshinite?+
Where is shirokshinite found?+
What rocks look like shirokshinite?+
What minerals are found with shirokshinite?+
What kind of rock does shirokshinite form in?+
What is shirokshinite used for?+
Find shirokshinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
