Voronkovite is a very rare silicate mineral found in the highly alkaline rocks of the Lovozero Massif in Russia. It typically occurs as small, pseudo-hexagonal tabular crystals associated with other rare-earth and zirconium-bearing minerals in pegmatitic veins.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrareLovozerite Group family

Voronkovite

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent

No image

Is this voronkovite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch voronkovite with a known reference. Voronkovite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: light brown.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: subhedral crystals.

Often confused with

Voronkovite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Lovozerite

Mohs 5

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Voronkovite leaves white, Lovozerite leaves brown.

Often found alongside voronkovite

Minerals reported to co-occur with voronkovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Na₁₅(Na,Ca,Ce)₃(Mn,Ca)₃Fe₃Zr₃Si₂₆O₇₂(OH,O)₄Cl·H₂O
Mohs hardness: 5
Density: 2.97 g/cm³
Colors: Light brown
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Subhedral crystals
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In a lenticular zoned pegmatite hosted by poikilitic nepheline-sodalite syenite in the middle part of a differentiated alkaline complex

Where rockhounds find voronkovite

Classic worldwide localities

Shkatulka hyperalkaline pegmatite, Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a lenticular zoned pegmatite hosted by poikilitic nepheline-sodalite syenite in the middle part of a differentiated alkaline complex. If you start seeing microcline, sodalite, nepheline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: subhedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify voronkovite?+

Mohs hardness is 5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include light brown.

Where is voronkovite found?+

Notable localities include Shkatulka hyperalkaline pegmatite, Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.

What rocks look like voronkovite?+

Voronkovite is most often confused with Lovozerite, Litvinskite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with voronkovite?+

Voronkovite commonly co-occurs with Microcline, Sodalite, Nepheline, Aegirine, Terskite, Lomonosovite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does voronkovite form in?+

Where it forms: In a lenticular zoned pegmatite hosted by poikilitic nepheline-sodalite syenite in the middle part of a differentiated alkaline complex. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is voronkovite used for?+

Voronkovite is used in collector.

Find voronkovite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.