Weberite is a rare fluoride mineral discovered in the famous cryolite deposit of Ivigtut, Greenland. It typically occurs as massive, granular white or brownish masses and is highly prized by mineral collectors specializing in rare halides or pegmatite suites.
Is this weberite?
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 weberite with a known reference. Weberite 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. Weberite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Weberite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, gray, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, granular.
Often confused with
Weberite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Weberite and vitreous to greasy on Cryolite.
How to tell apart: Prosopite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5).
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Weberite and earthy on Gearksutite.
Often found alongside weberite
Minerals reported to co-occur with weberite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂MgAlF₇
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.96 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Cryolite-bearing Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and provenance
Where rockhounds find weberite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ivigtut, Greenland
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in cryolite-bearing pegmatites country — that is the host setting where weberite typically forms. If you start seeing cryolite, fluorite, siderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find weberite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
