Babánekite is a rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zones of copper-arsenic deposits. It typically forms as delicate, light green to bluish-pink to peach acicular crystal sprays or crusts often associated with other rare arsenates.
Is this babánekite?
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 babánekite with a known reference. Babánekite sits at Mohs 1.5-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale pink.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, peach.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular to lath-like crystals, crusts, or coatings.
Often confused with
Babánekite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Babánekite leaves pale pink, Vivianite leaves white, altering to dark blue, brown.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Babánekite and subadamantine, pearly on cleavages on Erythrite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Babánekite and subadamantine, pearly on cleavages, may be dull, earthy on Annabergite.
Often found alongside babánekite
Minerals reported to co-occur with babánekite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₃(AsO₄)₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2.5
- Density
- 3.192 g/cm³
- Colors
- PinkPeach
- Streak
- Pale pink
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular to lath-like crystals, crusts, or coatings
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In cavities and on surfaces of ore fragments from the oxidation zone of a hydrothermal Ag-As-Bi-Co-Ni-U vein-type deposit
Where rockhounds find babánekite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jáchymov, Czech Republic
- Schneeberg, Germany
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In cavities and on surfaces of ore fragments from the oxidation zone of a hydrothermal Ag-As-Bi-Co-Ni-U vein-type deposit. If you start seeing lavendulan, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular to lath-like crystals, crusts, or coatings. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find babánekite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
