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 — that is 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?+
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Find vapnikite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
