Stenonite is an extremely rare strontium aluminum carbonate fluoride found primarily in the cryolite deposit of Ivigtut, Greenland. It typically occurs as white or colorless prismatic crystals associated with other rare fluoride minerals in late-stage hydrothermal veins.
Is this stenonite?
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 stenonite with a known reference. Stenonite sits at Mohs ~3.5, 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, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Stenonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside stenonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stenonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sr₂Al(CO₃)F₅
- Mohs hardness
- ~3.5
- Density
- 3.86 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals, massive
- Cleavage
- On {001}, {120}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral in the contact zone between siderite–cryolite and fluorite-rich rocks
Where rockhounds find stenonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ivigtut cryolite deposit, southwestern Greenland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral in the contact zone between siderite–cryolite and fluorite-rich rocks. If you start seeing jarlite, weberite, jørgensonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify stenonite?+
Where is stenonite found?+
What rocks look like stenonite?+
What minerals are found with stenonite?+
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Find stenonite on the map
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