Walkerite is a rare calcium magnesium lithium hydroxide that forms colorless to white bladed to fibrous crystals. It occurs in a marine evaporite deposit. It was first described from the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (New Brunswick Division) mine at Penobsquis, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrarePectolite family

Walkerite

Hardness: 3
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

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Is this walkerite?

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 walkerite with a known reference. Walkerite sits at Mohs 3, 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: colorless, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular, fibrous.

Often confused with

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

mineral

Pectolite

Mohs 4.5-5

How to tell apart: Pectolite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 3); luster reads vitreous on Walkerite and silky, subvitreous on Pectolite.

How to tell apart: Serandite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 3).

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Often found alongside walkerite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₁₆(Mg,Li)₂[B₁₃O₁₇(OH)₁₂]₄Cl₆·28H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3
Density: 2.07 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Acicular, fibrous
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector, Lapidary
Host rock: In a marine evaporite deposit

Where rockhounds find walkerite

Classic worldwide localities

Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (New Brunswick Division) mine at Penobsquis, near Sussex, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a marine evaporite deposit. If you start seeing halite, hydroboracite, boracite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, fibrous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify walkerite?+

Mohs hardness is 3. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white.

Where is walkerite found?+

Notable localities include Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (New Brunswick Division) mine at Penobsquis, near Sussex, Kings County, New Brunswick, Canada.

What rocks look like walkerite?+

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

What minerals are found with walkerite?+

Walkerite commonly co-occurs with Halite, Hydroboracite, Boracite, Hilgardite, Volkovskite, Szaibelyite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does walkerite form in?+

Where it forms: In a marine evaporite deposit. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is walkerite used for?+

Walkerite is used in collector, lapidary.

Find walkerite on the map

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