Datolite

Datolite specimens for sale

28 for sale · $110–$6,100 USD

69 in the gallery

Datolite is a calcium borosilicate mineral that forms colorless to pale green to brownish crystals, often displaying a vitreous to resinous luster and a blocky, prismatic habit. It frequently occurs in hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic rocks, and is known for its clear to translucent crystals that can form rosettes or aggregates, sometimes coated with secondary minerals. Notable specimens originate from classic mining districts in the United States and Mexico, with other important localities in Russia and South Africa contributing equally striking crystals. Collectors prize datolite for its varied crystal forms, delicate color zoning, and the way it can fluoresce under UV light in some samples, making it a compelling feature in cabinet displays.

Formula
CaBSiO4(OH)
Rarity
Common
Stability
Stable
Collector interest
High Interest
Classification notes
Sorosilicate, gadolinite-datolite group

Key characteristics

Crystal system
monoclinic
Mohs hardness
5–5.5
Specific gravity
2.8–3
Luster
vitreous
Transparency
transparent, translucent
Color
colorless, white, gray, yellow, green, pink
Streak
white
Cleavage
poor
Fracture
conchoidal, uneven
Crystal habit
prismatic, tabular, granular, massive
  • Gem mineral
  • Classic / historic

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Where Datolite is found

Top localities

  1. Shijiangshan Mine14 specimens
  2. Dalnegorsk4 specimens
  3. Paterson3 specimens
  4. Quincy Mine3 specimens
  5. Upper New Street Quarry3 specimens
  6. Charcas2 specimens
  7. Keweenaw Peninsula2 specimens
  8. Millington Quarry2 specimens
  9. N'Chwaning II Mine2 specimens
  10. Prospect Park2 specimens

About Datolite

Datolite’s appeal lies in its combination of rarity in certain colors, accessibility in common matrixes, and the way delicate crystals can be embedded within iron-rich gangue. This, along with its historical significance from early mineral collections, helps explain why datolite remains a staple for those building comprehensive mineral cabinets. Its relatively wide color range and room-temperature crystallization in several parageneses give collectors many variants to seek, from simple colorless prisms to softly tinted, gemmy crystals that catch light at a small scale.