Tazzoliite is a rare barium-titanium silicate mineral found primarily in volcanic ejecta blocks at Mount Vesuvius. It typically forms as small, pale orange, elongated prismatic crystals embedded within alkaline volcanic rocks.
Is this tazzoliite?
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 tazzoliite with a known reference. Tazzoliite 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: pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Tazzoliite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside tazzoliite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tazzoliite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂CaSr₀.₅Na₀.₅Ti₂Nb₃SiO₁₇[PO₂(OH)₂]₀.₅
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 4.517 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pale orange
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As part of skarn and calc-silicate metamorphic rocks with rare sanidine xenoliths near the contacts with rhyolite and trachite
Where rockhounds find tazzoliite
Classic worldwide localities
- Monte delle Basse, Euganei Hills, south of Galzignano Terme, Padua, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As part of skarn and calc-silicate metamorphic rocks with rare sanidine xenoliths near the contacts with rhyolite and trachite. If you start seeing diopside, titanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tazzoliite?+
Where is tazzoliite found?+
What rocks look like tazzoliite?+
What minerals are found with tazzoliite?+
What kind of rock does tazzoliite form in?+
What is tazzoliite used for?+
Find tazzoliite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
