Colquiriite is a rare fluoride mineral originally discovered in the Colquiri Mine in Bolivia. It typically occurs as small colorless to white tabular crystals within hydrothermal vein environments, often associated with fluorite and other sulfide minerals.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Colquiriite

Hardness: ~4
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Is this colquiriite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch colquiriite with a known reference. Colquiriite sits at Mohs ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.

Often confused with

Colquiriite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside colquiriite

Minerals reported to co-occur with colquiriite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: LiCaAlF₆
Mohs hardness: ~4
Density: 2.94 g/cm³
Colors: White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, massive
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector, Research
Host rock: Associated with hydrothermal tin-bearing veins

Where rockhounds find colquiriite

Classic worldwide localities

Colquiri tin deposit, Oruro, Bolivia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Associated with hydrothermal tin-bearing veins. If you start seeing ralstonite, gearksutite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify colquiriite?+

Mohs hardness is ~4. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include white.

Where is colquiriite found?+

Notable localities include Colquiri tin deposit, Oruro, Bolivia.

What rocks look like colquiriite?+

Colquiriite is most often confused with Fluorite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with colquiriite?+

Colquiriite commonly co-occurs with Ralstonite, Gearksutite, Sphalerite, Madocite, Pyrite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does colquiriite form in?+

Where it forms: Associated with hydrothermal tin-bearing veins. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is colquiriite used for?+

Colquiriite is used in collector, research.

Find colquiriite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.