Vapnikite is a very rare mineral belonging to the ettringite group, typically found in high-temperature pyrometamorphic settings. It usually occurs as small, colorless to white prismatic crystals or radial clusters within calc-silicate rocks.
Is this vapnikite?
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 vapnikite with a known reference. Vapnikite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vapnikite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vapnikite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Vapnikite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vapnikite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vapnikite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄Ca₂Al₂(OH)₁₂(SO₄)₃(CO₃)·26H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.12 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {10-10}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Pyrometamorphic Rocks of The Hatrurim Formation
- Typical price
- niche market, pricing highly variable by specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find vapnikite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hatrurim Formation, Israel
- Jordaan, Jordan
Field-hunting tip
Look in pyrometamorphic rocks of the hatrurim formation country, the host setting where vapnikite typically forms. If you start seeing brownmillerite, mayenite, fluorellestadite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vapnikite?+
Where is vapnikite found?+
How much is vapnikite worth?+
What rocks look like vapnikite?+
What minerals are found with vapnikite?+
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Find vapnikite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
