Vitimite is a rare calcium sulfate, typically white. It is a low-temperature hydrothermal mineral in veinlets in a skarn-type boron deposit. It was first described from the Solongo boron deposit, Buryatia, Russia.
Is this vitimite?
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 vitimite with a known reference. Vitimite sits at Mohs 1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Vitimite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Vitimite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Vitimite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside vitimite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vitimite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₆B₁₄O₁₉(SO₄)(OH)₁₄·5H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Density
- 2.29 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Pegmatites
Where rockhounds find vitimite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vitim River, Siberia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites country, the host setting where vitimite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, feldspar, mica 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 vitimite?+
Where is vitimite found?+
What rocks look like vitimite?+
What minerals are found with vitimite?+
What kind of rock does vitimite form in?+
What is vitimite used for?+
Find vitimite on the map
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