Voloshinite is a rare lithium-bearing mica characterized by its platy, micaceous habit and distinctive yellowish-brown color. It is primarily found in specialized pegmatitic environments where complex mineral crystallization occurs. Collectors value it for its limited locality and its position within the mica mineral series.
Is this voloshinite?
4-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 voloshinite with a known reference. Voloshinite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Voloshinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside voloshinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with voloshinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Rb(LiAl₁.₅□₀.₅)(Al₀.₅Si₃.₅)O₁₀F₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.95 g/cm³
- Colors
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In veinlets or pods inside pollucite aggregates found in rare-element granitic pegmatites, a late-stage mineral formed after pollucite
Where rockhounds find voloshinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Vasin-Myl’k, Voron’ŕ Tundras, Kola Peninsula, Russia (type locality)
- Red Cross Lake pegmatites, Manitoba, and the Eastern Moblan pegmatite, Frotet-Evans greenstone belt, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In veinlets or pods inside pollucite aggregates found in rare-element granitic pegmatites, a late-stage mineral formed after pollucite. If you start seeing pollucite, lepidolite, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify voloshinite?+
Where is voloshinite found?+
What rocks look like voloshinite?+
What minerals are found with voloshinite?+
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Find voloshinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
