Tatarinovite is a rare calcium-aluminum silicate-carbonate mineral belonging to the ettringite group. It typically occurs as small, delicate acicular crystals or fibrous mats within cavities of hydrothermally altered serpentinite rocks.
Is this tatarinovite?
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 tatarinovite with a known reference. Tatarinovite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tatarinovite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tatarinovite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates.
Often confused with
Tatarinovite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside tatarinovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tatarinovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃AlSi(OH)₈(CO₃)·11H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 1.74 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Fibrous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {10-10}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Serpentinite-hosted Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find tatarinovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bazhenovskoye deposit, Ural Mountains, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in serpentinite-hosted hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where tatarinovite typically forms. If you start seeing hydrotalcite, dresserite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, fibrous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tatarinovite?+
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Find tatarinovite on the map
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