Canavesite is an extremely rare borate mineral found almost exclusively in the Canavese region of Italy. It typically forms delicate, needle-like white crystals or radial sprays within dolomitic limestone environments, often appearing alongside hydromagnesite.
Is this canavesite?
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 canavesite with a known reference. Canavesite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, silky in aggregates.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular, rosette.
Often confused with
Canavesite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside canavesite
Minerals reported to co-occur with canavesite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₂(HBO₃)(CO₃)·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, silky in aggregates
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, rosette
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {h0l}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral on tunnel surfaces in an abandoned mine in weathering ludwigite–magnetite skarn
Where rockhounds find canavesite
Classic worldwide localities
- Brosso mine, northwest of Ivrea, Piedmont, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral on tunnel surfaces in an abandoned mine in weathering ludwigite–magnetite skarn. If you start seeing ludwigite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, rosette. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify canavesite?+
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Find canavesite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
