Fluor-schorl is a distinct member of the tourmaline group, chemically defined by the dominance of fluorine over hydroxyl at the anion site. It is visually indistinguishable from common schorl without advanced chemical analysis and typically exhibits the same elongate, heavily striated prismatic habit characteristic of the tourmaline family.
Is this fluor-schorl?
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 fluor-schorl with a known reference. Fluor-schorl sits at Mohs 7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: bluish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale brownish, pale grayish-bluish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with rounded triangular cross-sections, striated.
Often confused with
Fluor-schorl vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside fluor-schorl
Minerals reported to co-occur with fluor-schorl. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaFe²⁺₃(Al₆Si₆O₁₈)(BO₃)₃(OH)₃F
- Mohs hardness
- 7
- Density
- 3.20 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pale brownishPale grayish-bluish black
- Streak
- Bluish white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent to transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals with rounded triangular cross-sections, striated
- Cleavage
- Poor/indistinct on {0001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A pneumatolytic phase associated with tin mineralization (Zschorlau) and in high-temperature hydrothermal veins in granitic pegmatites (Grasstein)
Where rockhounds find fluor-schorl
Classic worldwide localities
- Eibenstock, Germany
- Czech Republic
- Brazil
- Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A pneumatolytic phase associated with tin mineralization (Zschorlau) and in high-temperature hydrothermal veins in granitic pegmatites (Grasstein). If you start seeing quartz, biotite, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals with rounded triangular cross-sections, striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify fluor-schorl?+
Where is fluor-schorl found?+
What rocks look like fluor-schorl?+
What minerals are found with fluor-schorl?+
What kind of rock does fluor-schorl form in?+
What is fluor-schorl used for?+
Find fluor-schorl on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
