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 — that is 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
How do you identify sveite?+
Where is sveite found?+
How much is sveite worth?+
What rocks look like sveite?+
What minerals are found with sveite?+
What kind of rock does sveite form in?+
What is sveite used for?+
Find sveite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
