RocksdayNepheline Syenite
Nepheline Syenite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 5.5–6 and a granular luster, usually gray, white, pink or green.
A coarse rock of alkali feldspar and nepheline, with no quartz. It is the home of many rare minerals.
How to identify nepheline syenite
- Pale gray, pink or green, coarse grained.
- No glassy quartz — nepheline is greasier and softer.
- A knife may scratch the nepheline.
Often confused with
Where it's found
- Bancroft, Ontario
- Khibiny, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Ilímaussaq, Greenland
- Magnet Cove, Arkansas
Uses
Glass and ceramics, because it melts at a lower temperature than quartz-bearing feldspar.
Rock tumbling
Can be tumbled with care.
Did you know?
Pegmatites in this rock at Bancroft, Mont Saint-Hilaire and the Kola Peninsula are famous for rare species.
Nepheline Syenite FAQ
What is nepheline syenite?
Nepheline Syenite is an igneous rock with a Mohs hardness of about 5.5–6 and a granular luster, usually gray, white, pink or green. A coarse rock of alkali feldspar and nepheline, with no quartz. It is the home of many rare minerals.
How do you identify nepheline syenite?
Pale gray, pink or green, coarse grained. No glassy quartz — nepheline is greasier and softer. A knife may scratch the nepheline.
How hard is nepheline syenite?
Nepheline Syenite has a Mohs hardness of about 5.5–6. Nepheline Syenite scratches glass, and a steel knife can't scratch it.
Where is nepheline syenite found?
Notable localities include Bancroft, Ontario; Khibiny, Kola Peninsula, Russia; Ilímaussaq, Greenland; and Magnet Cove, Arkansas.
What is nepheline syenite used for?
Glass and ceramics, because it melts at a lower temperature than quartz-bearing feldspar.
Can you tumble nepheline syenite?
Yes, with care.
What is nepheline syenite often confused with?
Nepheline Syenite is most often confused with Syenite and Granite. Syenite is quartz-poor too, but it lacks nepheline. Granite contains quartz.
Think you could spot it from a blurry close-up?
Play today's Rocksday