Suolunite is a rare calcium silicate mineral typically found as small, white platy or radiating aggregates within altered ultramafic environments. It is highly sought after by mineral collectors due to its limited type locality in Inner Mongolia. Identification often requires X-ray diffraction or chemical analysis, as it can visually resemble other white silicate minerals.
Is this suolunite?
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 suolunite with a known reference. Suolunite 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 to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, honey yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy or micaceous aggregates, radiating clusters.
Often confused with
Suolunite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside suolunite
Minerals reported to co-occur with suolunite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Si₂O₅(OH)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.63-2.68 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy or micaceous aggregates, radiating clusters
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In veins cutting harzburgites in an ultramafic intrusive (Suolun, China); as a precipitate from an alkaline spring in a fault zone in basalts above an ultramafic intrusive (Al Khawd, Oman)
Where rockhounds find suolunite
Classic worldwide localities
- Suolun, Inner Mongolia, China
- Kulaski, near Doboj, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Al Khawd, near Masqat, Oman
- Lac d'Amiante mine, Black Lake, Quebec and at Lac de Gras, Northwest Territories, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In veins cutting harzburgites in an ultramafic intrusive (Suolun, China); as a precipitate from an alkaline spring in a fault zone in basalts above an ultramafic intrusive (Al Khawd, Oman). If you start seeing tobermorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy or micaceous aggregates, radiating clusters. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify suolunite?+
Where is suolunite found?+
What rocks look like suolunite?+
What minerals are found with suolunite?+
What kind of rock does suolunite form in?+
What is suolunite used for?+
Find suolunite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
