Escheite is a rare calcium sodium manganese silicate. It occurs in phonolite. It was first described from Ariskop quarry, Windhoek district, Namibia.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrareTugtupite family

Escheite

Escheite is a rare calcium sodium manganese silicate. It occurs in phonolite. It was first described from Ariskop quarry, Windhoek district, Namibia.

Hardness: 4
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

Is this escheite?

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 escheite with a known reference. Escheite 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. Escheite leaves a white streak.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Escheite typically shows a vitreous luster.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: pink, red, white, yellow.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, granular, rarely prismatic.

Often confused with

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

mineral

Sodalite

Mohs 5.5-6

How to tell apart: Sodalite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 4).

Often found alongside escheite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₂NaMnTi₅[Si₁₂O₃₄]O₂(OH)₃·12H₂O
Mohs hardness: 4
Density: 2.36 g/cm³
Colors: Pink Red White Yellow
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Massive, Granular, Rarely Prismatic
Cleavage: Poor
Fluorescence: Bright Orange-red Under UV
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector, Lapidary
Host rock: Alkaline Igneous Rocks

Where rockhounds find escheite

Classic worldwide localities

Ariskop quarry, Windhoek district, Namibia

Field-hunting tip

Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where escheite typically forms. If you start seeing aegirine, arfvedsonite, eudialyte in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, rarely prismatic habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify escheite?+

Mohs hardness is 4. It typically shows a vitreous luster. The streak is white. Common colors include pink, red, white, yellow.

Where is escheite found?+

Notable localities include Ariskop quarry, Windhoek district, Namibia.

What rocks look like escheite?+

Escheite is most often confused with Sodalite, Tugtupite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with escheite?+

Escheite commonly co-occurs with Aegirine, Arfvedsonite, Eudialyte, Microcline. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does escheite form in?+

Escheite typically forms in alkaline igneous rocks. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is escheite used for?+

Escheite is used in collector, lapidary.

Find escheite on the map

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