Svyatoslavite is a rare high-temperature polymorph of anorthite found primarily in the combustion zones of burning coal dumps. Collectors usually find it as small, thin, platy crystals occurring within the altered mineral assemblages of these anthropogenic environments.
Is this svyatoslavite?
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 svyatoslavite with a known reference. Svyatoslavite sits at Mohs ~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.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates.
Often confused with
Svyatoslavite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside svyatoslavite
Minerals reported to co-occur with svyatoslavite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaAl₂Si₂O₈
- Mohs hardness
- ~6
- Density
- 2.695 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, tabular aggregates
- Cleavage
- Poor on {100}
- Fluorescence
- Weal yellow under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In burning dumps, as a sublimate on fracture walls in coal, formed at about 700°C–900°C
Where rockhounds find svyatoslavite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kopeysk, Chelyabinsk coal basin, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In burning dumps, as a sublimate on fracture walls in coal, formed at about 700°C–900°C. If you start seeing anorthite, troilite, cohenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, tabular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify svyatoslavite?+
Where is svyatoslavite found?+
What rocks look like svyatoslavite?+
What minerals are found with svyatoslavite?+
What kind of rock does svyatoslavite form in?+
What is svyatoslavite used for?+
Find svyatoslavite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
