Studenitsite is a rare borate mineral that occurs as small, clear to white prismatic crystals. It is primarily found within evaporite-related sedimentary environments, most notably in its type locality in North Macedonia. Collectors prize it for its rarity and its role as a specialized member of the borate mineral group.
Is this studenitsite?
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 studenitsite with a known reference. Studenitsite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, 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, light dirty yellow, light gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: striated, wedge shaped.
Often confused with
Studenitsite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside studenitsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with studenitsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCa₂B₉O₁₄(OH)₄·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 2.29 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent to transparent in thin pieces
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Striated, wedge shaped
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As lenses in clay and carbonate-bearing volcanogenic-sedimentary borate deposits
Where rockhounds find studenitsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Piskaya deposit, Yarondolskii Basin, on the Ibar River, 280 km south of Belgrade, Yugoslavia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As lenses in clay and carbonate-bearing volcanogenic-sedimentary borate deposits. If you start seeing colemanite, howlite, ulexite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: striated, wedge shaped. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify studenitsite?+
Where is studenitsite found?+
What rocks look like studenitsite?+
What minerals are found with studenitsite?+
What kind of rock does studenitsite form in?+
What is studenitsite used for?+
Find studenitsite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
