Strontiofluorite is a rare strontium-dominant member of the fluorite group. It is typically identified through chemical analysis, as it closely resembles common fluorite but occurs in specific alkaline environments.
Is this strontiofluorite?
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 strontiofluorite with a known reference. Strontiofluorite sits at Mohs 4, 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: greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Strontiofluorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside strontiofluorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with strontiofluorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SrF₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 4.05 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Greasy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect {111}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In lenses of sodalite-microcline-aegirine rock within an apatite-rich urtite; produced by intense alteration of primary Sr-bearing minerals by F-rich hydrothermal fluids in a peralkaline parageneses
Where rockhounds find strontiofluorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Koashva and Mt. Kitchepakhk, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In lenses of sodalite-microcline-aegirine rock within an apatite-rich urtite; produced by intense alteration of primary Sr-bearing minerals by F-rich hydrothermal fluids in a peralkaline parageneses. If you start seeing astrophyllite, burbankite, chlorobartonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: octahedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify strontiofluorite?+
Where is strontiofluorite found?+
What rocks look like strontiofluorite?+
What minerals are found with strontiofluorite?+
What kind of rock does strontiofluorite form in?+
What is strontiofluorite used for?+
Find strontiofluorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
