Svabite is a rare arsenate mineral belonging to the apatite group, primarily found in skarn-related manganese-iron deposits. Collectors typically look for its short, prismatic to tabular hexagonal crystals often displaying brownish or yellowish hues.
Is this svabite?
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 svabite with a known reference. Svabite sits at Mohs 4-5, 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 subresinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, gray, gray green, yellowish white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: crystalline, hexagonal.
Often confused with
Svabite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside svabite
Minerals reported to co-occur with svabite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₅(AsO₄)₃F
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 3.5-3.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to subresinous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, hexagonal
- Cleavage
- Indistinct on {1010}
- Fluorescence
- Red orange under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare accessory mineral in calcsilicate contact metamorphic rocks (skarns)
Where rockhounds find svabite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found in the Harstigen mine, near Persberg, at Jakobsberg, and at Långban, Värmland, Sweden
- Kesebol, Dalsland, Sweden
- Ultevis district, Jokkmokk, Swedish Lappland, Sweden
- Clara Mine, near Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare accessory mineral in calcsilicate contact metamorphic rocks (skarns). If you start seeing manganoan diopside, brandtite, sarkinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify svabite?+
Where is svabite found?+
Is svabite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like svabite?+
What minerals are found with svabite?+
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Find svabite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
