Stangersite is a very rare calcium beryllium borate mineral first discovered in South Africa. It typically occurs as small, colorless or white prismatic crystals and is often found associated with the more common mineral danburite. Because of its extreme rarity, it is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors.
Is this stangersite?
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 stangersite with a known reference. Stangersite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Stangersite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Stangersite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Stangersite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside stangersite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stangersite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaBe₂B₂O₇
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 2.88 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300+ thumbnail
Where rockhounds find stangersite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stanger, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in pegmatites country — that is the host setting where stangersite typically forms. If you start seeing danburite, calcite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find stangersite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
