Shortite typically occurs as distinct, wedge-shaped or tabular crystals within evaporite deposits. It is most famous for its occurrence in the Green River Formation of Wyoming, where it is often found embedded in massive trona or oil shale matrices.
Is this shortite?
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 shortite with a known reference. Shortite sits at Mohs 3-4.5, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular.
Often confused with
Shortite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside shortite
Minerals reported to co-occur with shortite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Ca₂(CO₃)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4.5
- Density
- 2.629 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {010}
- Fluorescence
- Amber under SW and LW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In saline dolomitic marl (Green River Formation, Wyoming and Utah, USA); in kimberlite dikes (Upper Canada mine, Canada); in carbonatite (Vuoriyarvi massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia)
Where rockhounds find shortite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Green River Formation, Wyoming and Utah, with indicated reserves of billions of tons, USA
- Found in the John Hay, Jr. Well No. 1, about 30 km west Green River, Sweetwater Co., Wyoming, USA
- Uintah Basin, northeastern, Utah, USA
- Upper Canada gold mine, Kirkland Lake district, Ontario, and at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
- Kola Peninsula, in the Vuoriyarvi carbonatite complex, from the Kovdor massif, and on Mt. Restin’yun, Khibiny massif, Russia
- Udachnaya pipe, Daldyn kimberlite field, Sakha, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In saline dolomitic marl (Green River Formation, Wyoming and Utah, USA); in kimberlite dikes (Upper Canada mine, Canada); in carbonatite (Vuoriyarvi massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia). If you start seeing trona, nahcolite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify shortite?+
Where is shortite found?+
Can I find shortite in the United States?+
What rocks look like shortite?+
What minerals are found with shortite?+
What kind of rock does shortite form in?+
What is shortite used for?+
Find shortite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
