Veblenite is a rare potassium sodium iron silicate, typically red-brown. It is an included in feldspar in gneiss. It was first described from Ten Mile Lake, Seal Lake area, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
Is this veblenite?
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 veblenite with a known reference. Veblenite 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. Streak: very pale brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Veblenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Eudialyte is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 3); streak differs, so Veblenite leaves very pale brown, Eudialyte leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Veblenite leaves very pale brown, Astrophyllite leaves golden; luster reads vitreous on Veblenite and submetallic, pearly, greasy on Astrophyllite.
Often found alongside veblenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with veblenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂☐₂Na(Fe²⁺₅Fe³⁺₄Mn₇☐)Nb₃Ti(Si₂O₇)₂(Si₈O₂₂)₂O₆(OH)₁₀(H₂O)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.046 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Very pale brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Included in feldspar in gneiss
Where rockhounds find veblenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ten Mile Lake, Seal Lake area, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Included in feldspar in gneiss. If you start seeing niobophyllite, aegirine-augite, barylite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify veblenite?+
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What rocks look like veblenite?+
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Find veblenite on the map
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