Strakhovite is an exceptionally rare silicate mineral discovered in alkaline pegmatites of the Kola Peninsula. It typically occurs as small, pale yellow tabular crystals and is highly prized by advanced mineral collectors due to its very limited global occurrence.
Is this strakhovite?
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 strakhovite with a known reference. Strakhovite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, greenish black, dark olive green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Strakhovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside strakhovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with strakhovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaBa₂Mn₂Si₄O₁₂OHF₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 3.86 g/cm³
- Streak
- Green
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- At the contact between braunite ore and alkali basalt
Where rockhounds find strakhovite
Classic worldwide localities
- The Ir-Nimi manganese deposit, Taikan Ridge, Far East, Russia (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: At the contact between braunite ore and alkali basalt. If you start seeing pectolite, aegirine, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify strakhovite?+
Where is strakhovite found?+
What rocks look like strakhovite?+
What minerals are found with strakhovite?+
What kind of rock does strakhovite form in?+
What is strakhovite used for?+
Find strakhovite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
