Paqueite is an extremely rare calcium titanium silicate mineral originally identified in the volcanic ejecta of the Colli Albani region in Italy. It typically forms small, tabular tetragonal crystals and is highly prized by advanced mineral collectors due to its limited geological occurrence.
Is this paqueite?
2-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 paqueite with a known reference. Paqueite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Paqueite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside paqueite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paqueite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃TiSi₂(Al,Ti,Si)₃O₁₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.17 g/cm³
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed during late-stage dynamic crystallization or by exsolution in a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite
Where rockhounds find paqueite
Classic worldwide localities
- Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed during late-stage dynamic crystallization or by exsolution in a carbonaceous chondrite meteorite. If you start seeing aluminous melilite, burnettite, spinel 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 paqueite?+
Where is paqueite found?+
What rocks look like paqueite?+
What minerals are found with paqueite?+
What kind of rock does paqueite form in?+
What is paqueite used for?+
Find paqueite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
