Levantite is a potassium calcium aluminum phosphate that forms colorless prismatic crystals. It occurs in pyrometamorphic gehlenite-wollastonite hornfels. It was first described from the northern slope of Har Parsa, Negev Desert, near Arad, Israel.
Is this levantite?
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 levantite with a known reference. Levantite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Levantite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Levantite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Levantite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Flint Nodule is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 5); luster reads vitreous on Levantite and waxy on Flint Nodule.
How to tell apart: Quartzite is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 5).
Often found alongside levantite
Minerals reported to co-occur with levantite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KCa₃Al₂(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)(PO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.957 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Good On (100)
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Limestone
Where rockhounds find levantite
Classic worldwide localities
- Israel
- Palestine
- Jordan
- Syria
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary limestone country, the host setting where levantite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, dolomite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify levantite?+
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What rocks look like levantite?+
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Find levantite on the map
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