Kurgantaite is a rare strontium borate mineral found in evaporite basins. Collectors should look for its characteristic tabular crystal habit or massive, granular white aggregates in salt-bearing sequences.
Is this kurgantaite?
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 kurgantaite with a known reference. Kurgantaite 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. Kurgantaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Kurgantaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Kurgantaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside kurgantaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with kurgantaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sr(B₅O₈)(OH)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Evaporite Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find kurgantaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Inder Deposit, Kazakhstan
- Kurganta, Kazakhstan
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary evaporite deposits country — that is the host setting where kurgantaite typically forms. If you start seeing halite, gypsum, borax in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find kurgantaite on the map
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