Tuzlaite is an extremely rare calcium-sodium borate mineral discovered in the salt deposits of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It typically occurs as small, clear, tabular monoclinic crystals embedded within salt-rich evaporite sequences.
Is this tuzlaite?
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 tuzlaite with a known reference. Tuzlaite sits at Mohs 3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tuzlaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tuzlaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Tuzlaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside tuzlaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tuzlaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCaB₅O₈(OH)₂·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.32 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find tuzlaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tuzla salt deposit, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits country, the host setting where tuzlaite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, borax, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tuzlaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
