Sitinakite is a rare titanium-bearing silicate mineral found in alkaline rock environments. It typically forms as small, clear, tabular crystals and is primarily known from the unique hyper-alkaline pegmatites of the Khibiny Massif in Russia.

Hardness

4.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrare

Sitinakite

Hardness: 4.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Semitransparent

Is this sitinakite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch sitinakite with a known reference. Sitinakite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, light brown, pink.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.

Often confused with

Sitinakite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Narsarsukite

Mohs 5.5-7

How to tell apart: Narsarsukite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-7 vs. 4.5).

Compare →

Often found alongside sitinakite

Minerals reported to co-occur with sitinakite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: KNa₂Ti₄Si₂O₁₃(OH)·4H₂O
Mohs hardness: 4.5
Density: 2.86 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Light brown Pink
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Tetragonal
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals
Cleavage: {100} and {001}, perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In hydrothermally altered portions of alkalic pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif

Where rockhounds find sitinakite

Classic worldwide localities

Mts. Kukisvumchorr and Yukspor, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In hydrothermally altered portions of alkalic pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif. If you start seeing nepheline, natrolite, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify sitinakite?+

Mohs hardness is 4.5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, light brown, pink.

Where is sitinakite found?+

Notable localities include Mts. Kukisvumchorr and Yukspor, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.

What rocks look like sitinakite?+

Sitinakite is most often confused with Narsarsukite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with sitinakite?+

Sitinakite commonly co-occurs with Nepheline, Natrolite, Aegirine, Microcline, Apatite, Vinogradovite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does sitinakite form in?+

Where it forms: In hydrothermally altered portions of alkalic pegmatites in a differentiated alkalic massif. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is sitinakite used for?+

Sitinakite is used in collector.

Find sitinakite on the map

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