Hezuolinite is a rare strontium zirconium titanium silicate, typically black. It occurs in a series of alkaline volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks, associated with aegirine nepheline syenite. Associated minerals include microcline, nepheline and aegirine. It was first described from Saima alkaline complex, Fengcheng County, Liaoning Province, NE China.
Is this hezuolinite?
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 hezuolinite with a known reference. Hezuolinite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hezuolinite leaves a dark brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hezuolinite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: granular to massive.
Often confused with
Hezuolinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hezuolinite leaves dark brown, Pink Feldspar leaves white; luster reads resinous on Hezuolinite and vitreous on Pink Feldspar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hezuolinite leaves dark brown, Sanidine leaves white; luster reads resinous on Hezuolinite and vitreous on Sanidine.
Often found alongside hezuolinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hezuolinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Sr,REE)₄Zr(Ti,Fe³⁺,Fe²⁺)₂Ti₂O₈(Si₂O₇)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 4.28 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark Brown
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Granular to Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Syenite Porphyry
Where rockhounds find hezuolinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hezuo, Gansu Province, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in syenite porphyry country, the host setting where hezuolinite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, biotite, plagioclase in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular to massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hezuolinite?+
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Find hezuolinite on the map
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