Loveringite
A variety of Minerals
What is Loveringite?
Loveringite is a rare metallic oxide mineral of the crichtonite group with the chemical formula (Ca,Ce)(Ti,Fe,Cr,Mg)21O38. It is a late-stage magmatic mineral, formed in the residual melt of mafic layered intrusions in either the olivine-chromite, pyroxene, or plagioclase-rich layers.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Loveringite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Loveringite Localities Map
See where Loveringite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Formation of Loveringite
Loveringite was discovered in 1978 in the Jimberlana Intrusion, Dundas Shire, Western Australia, and was named for Australian geochemist and University of Melbourne professor John Francis Lovering, in recognition of his work on fission-track methods in geochemistry. Loveringite has also been generally found in areas of medium-grade metamorphism, reported from the Hoggar Mountains of Algeria; the Hohe Tauern Mountains, Salzburg, Austria; the Koitelainen intrusion of Lappland, Finland; Bourg d’Oisans, Isere, France; Bracco, Liguria, Italy; the Kerguelen Islands; the Khibiny Massif in the Kola Peninsula of Russia; and at Makwiro on the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Black, white in reflected light.
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5
- Density
- 4.42 g/cm³
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- (Ca,Ce,La)(Zr,Fe)(Mg,Fe)2(Ti,Fe,Cr,Al)18O38
- Elements
- Al, Ca, Ce, Cr, Fe, La, Mg, O, Ti, Zr
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Loveringite FAQs
How do I identify Loveringite?
Loveringite can be identified by its hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale, Black color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Loveringite?
Loveringite typically appears in Black, white in reflected light.. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Loveringite?
Loveringite has a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.
What is the formation of loveringite of Loveringite?
Loveringite was discovered in 1978 in the Jimberlana Intrusion, Dundas Shire, Western Australia, and was named for Australian geochemist and University of Melbourne professor John Francis Lovering, in recognition of his work on fission-track methods in geochemistry. Loveringite has also been generally found in areas of medium-grade metamorphism, reported from the Hoggar Mountains of Algeria; the Hohe Tauern Mountains, Salzburg, Austria; the Koitelainen intrusion of Lappland, Finland; Bourg d’Oisans, Isere, France; Bracco, Liguria, Italy; the Kerguelen Islands; the Khibiny Massif in the Kola Peninsula of Russia; and at Makwiro on the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe.
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