Sveite is an exceptionally rare cave-dwelling mineral found primarily in limestone environments where it forms delicate acicular or fibrous clusters. It is highly prized by collectors for its occurrence in subterranean micro-environments, often appearing as tiny white tufts within damp cave wall recesses.
Is this sveite?
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 sveite with a known reference. Sveite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sveite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sveite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous, tufts.
Often confused with
Sveite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside sveite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sveite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KAl₇(OH)₁₆Cl₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.14 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Fibrous, Tufts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Limestone Caves
- Typical price
- $50-300+ per specimen
Where rockhounds find sveite
Classic worldwide localities
- Falcon Cave, Mexico
- Cueva de la Finca, Spain
- La Sima, Spain
Field-hunting tip
Look in limestone caves country, the host setting where sveite typically forms. If you start seeing gibbsite, hydromagnesite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, fibrous, tufts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sveite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
