Nalipoite is an extremely rare phosphate mineral known primarily from the Poudrette quarry at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. Collectors typically look for small, transparent tabular crystals associated with other rare alkaline minerals in pegmatite cavities.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrare

Nalipoite

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

No image

Is this nalipoite?

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 nalipoite with a known reference. Nalipoite 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, light blue, light yellow.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.

Often confused with

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

mineral

Apatite

Mohs 5

How to tell apart: Apatite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. ~4).

How to tell apart: Nalipoite is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 1-3); luster reads vitreous on Nalipoite and dull on Nahpoite.

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Often found alongside nalipoite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: NaLi₂PO₄
Mohs hardness: ~4
Density: 2.58 g/cm³
Colors: White Light blue Light yellow
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals
Cleavage: Good on {100}, {010}, {001}, {110}; distinct on probable {101}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: Very rare in sodalite syenite xenoliths associated with an intrusive alkalic gabbro-syenite complex

Where rockhounds find nalipoite

Classic worldwide localities

Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: Very rare in sodalite syenite xenoliths associated with an intrusive alkalic gabbro-syenite complex. If you start seeing silinaite, revdite, serandite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify nalipoite?+

Mohs hardness is ~4. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include white, light blue, light yellow.

Where is nalipoite found?+

Notable localities include Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada.

What rocks look like nalipoite?+

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

What minerals are found with nalipoite?+

Nalipoite commonly co-occurs with Silinaite, Revdite, Serandite, Lovozerite, Villiaumite, Ussingite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does nalipoite form in?+

Where it forms: Very rare in sodalite syenite xenoliths associated with an intrusive alkalic gabbro-syenite complex. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is nalipoite used for?+

Nalipoite is used in collector.

Find nalipoite on the map

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