Saamite is a rare barium titanium niobium silicate that forms colorless to pale tan platy crystals. It occurs in a hydrothermally-altered pegmatite body emplaced in nepheline syenite. It was first described from Kirovskii mine, Mount Kukisvumchorr, Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.
Is this saamite?
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 saamite with a known reference. Saamite 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. Saamite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Saamite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, pale tan.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Saamite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside saamite
Minerals reported to co-occur with saamite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba☐TiNbNa₃Ti(Si₂O₇)₂O₂(OH)₂(H₂O)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.243 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect, On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks
Where rockhounds find saamite
Classic worldwide localities
- Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Vuoriyarvi, Karelia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where saamite typically forms. If you start seeing aegirine, nepheline, k-feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find saamite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
