Strontiodresserite is an extremely rare carbonate mineral found primarily in the alkaline rocks of the Mont Saint-Hilaire complex. It typically forms delicate, white to pale yellow radiating clusters of bladed crystals within cavities and is highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors.
Is this strontiodresserite?
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 strontiodresserite with a known reference. Strontiodresserite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: bladed aggregates.
Often confused with
Strontiodresserite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside strontiodresserite
Minerals reported to co-occur with strontiodresserite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SrAl₂(CO₃)₂(OH)₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 2.71 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed aggregates
- Cleavage
- None observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As a rare crystalline coating in vugs in a silicocarbonatite sill
Where rockhounds find strontiodresserite
Classic worldwide localities
- Francon quarry, Montreal Island, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As a rare crystalline coating in vugs in a silicocarbonatite sill. If you start seeing quartz, weloganite, dawsonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify strontiodresserite?+
Where is strontiodresserite found?+
What rocks look like strontiodresserite?+
What minerals are found with strontiodresserite?+
What kind of rock does strontiodresserite form in?+
What is strontiodresserite used for?+
Find strontiodresserite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
