Tienshanite is a rare borosilicate mineral typically found in complex alkaline pegmatites. It is prized by advanced collectors for its specific crystal habits and unique composition, usually occurring as small, transparent to translucent yellowish-brown grains or short prismatic crystals.
Is this tienshanite?
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 tienshanite with a known reference. Tienshanite sits at Mohs 6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tienshanite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tienshanite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic to tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Tienshanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Tienshanite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5 vs. 3-4); streak differs — Tienshanite leaves white, Barytolamprophyllite leaves yellowish; luster reads vitreous on Tienshanite and pearly on Barytolamprophyllite.
How to tell apart: Tienshanite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5 vs. 3); streak differs — Tienshanite leaves white, Bafertisite leaves yellowish; luster reads vitreous on Tienshanite and pearly on Bafertisite.
Often found alongside tienshanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tienshanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂BaTi(BSi₃O₉)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 3.13 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find tienshanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tien Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan
- Dara-i-Pioz Glacier, Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline pegmatites country — that is the host setting where tienshanite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, aegirine in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic to tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tienshanite on the map
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