Tikhonenkovite is an extremely rare strontium aluminum fluoride mineral typically found in hyper-agpaitic pegmatites. It often occurs as colorless to white tabular crystals or massive aggregates and is primarily valued by advanced mineral collectors for its unique chemical composition.

Hardness

3.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Tikhonenkovite

Hardness: 3.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

Is this tikhonenkovite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch tikhonenkovite with a known reference. Tikhonenkovite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, light pink.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic.

Often confused with

Tikhonenkovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Gearksutite

Mohs 2

How to tell apart: Tikhonenkovite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); luster reads vitreous on Tikhonenkovite and dull on Gearksutite.

How to tell apart: Prosopite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5).

Compare →

Often found alongside tikhonenkovite

Minerals reported to co-occur with tikhonenkovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: SrAlF₄(OH)·H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3.5
Density: 3.26 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless Light pink
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Prismatic
Cleavage: {100}, perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A secondary mineral formed in fissures in the oxidation zone of veins of iron ores in tectonic breccias

Where rockhounds find tikhonenkovite

Classic worldwide localities

Karasug, Tannu-Ola range, Tuva, Russia (type locality)

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A secondary mineral formed in fissures in the oxidation zone of veins of iron ores in tectonic breccias. If you start seeing gearksutite, karasugite, fluorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify tikhonenkovite?+

Mohs hardness is 3.5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, light pink.

Where is tikhonenkovite found?+

Notable localities include Karasug, Tannu-Ola range, Tuva, Russia (type locality).

What rocks look like tikhonenkovite?+

Tikhonenkovite is most often confused with Gearksutite, Prosopite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with tikhonenkovite?+

Tikhonenkovite commonly co-occurs with Gearksutite, Karasugite, Fluorite, Barian celestine, Strontianite, Limonite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does tikhonenkovite form in?+

Where it forms: A secondary mineral formed in fissures in the oxidation zone of veins of iron ores in tectonic breccias. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is tikhonenkovite used for?+

Tikhonenkovite is used in collector.

Find tikhonenkovite on the map

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