Sidorenkite is a rare sodium manganese carbonate-phosphate found primarily in agpaitic alkaline igneous rocks. It is noted for its delicate pinkish coloration and association with a wide suite of rare minerals in pegmatite pockets, particularly at the famous Mont Saint-Hilaire site.
Is this sidorenkite?
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 sidorenkite with a known reference. Sidorenkite sits at Mohs ~2, 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, pearly on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: irregular grains, prismatic.
Often confused with
Sidorenkite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sidorenkite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sidorenkite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₃Mn(PO₄)(CO₃)
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 2.90-3.03 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly on cleavages
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Irregular grains, prismatic
- Cleavage
- On {100} and {010}, perfect; on {001}, imperfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare low-temperature hydrothermal mineral, formed very late in the crystallization of hyperagpaitic pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif (Mt. Alluaiv, Kola Peninsula, Russia)
Where rockhounds find sidorenkite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero massif, and in the Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare low-temperature hydrothermal mineral, formed very late in the crystallization of hyperagpaitic pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif (Mt. Alluaiv, Kola Peninsula, Russia). If you start seeing villiaumite, kogarkoite, thermonatrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: irregular grains, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sidorenkite?+
Where is sidorenkite found?+
What rocks look like sidorenkite?+
What minerals are found with sidorenkite?+
What kind of rock does sidorenkite form in?+
What is sidorenkite used for?+
Find sidorenkite on the map
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