Atelestite is a rare secondary bismuth arsenate mineral typically found as small, brilliant yellow-green crystalline crusts or aggregates. It is most famously associated with the historical mining districts of Saxony, where it forms in the oxidation zones of bismuth-rich hydrothermal deposits.
Is this atelestite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch atelestite with a known reference. Atelestite sits at Mohs 4.5-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Atelestite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Atelestite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green, sulfur-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, spherical aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Atelestite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside atelestite
Minerals reported to co-occur with atelestite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₈(AsO₄)₃(OH)₉
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 6.08 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic Crystals, Spherical Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Bismuth-bearing Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find atelestite
Classic worldwide localities
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Joachimsthal, Czech Republic
- Cornwall, England
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized bismuth-bearing hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where atelestite typically forms. If you start seeing bismutite, mixite, walpurgite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a microscopic crystals, spherical aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify atelestite?+
Where is atelestite found?+
How much is atelestite worth?+
Is atelestite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like atelestite?+
What minerals are found with atelestite?+
What kind of rock does atelestite form in?+
What is atelestite used for?+
Find atelestite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
