Babingtonite is a striking silicate mineral typically found as lustrous, jet-black tabular crystals lining cavities in basaltic rocks. It is most famous among collectors for the classic, pristine crystals occurring in the hydrothermal veins of Massachusetts and the zeolite-rich cavities of India. It is easily distinguished by its vitreous luster and characteristic triclinic crystal morphology.
Is this babingtonite?
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 babingtonite with a known reference. Babingtonite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Babingtonite leaves a greenish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Babingtonite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, sometimes in groups or rosettes.
Often confused with
Babingtonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Babingtonite leaves greenish-black, Augite leaves grayish white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Babingtonite leaves greenish-black, Epidote leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Babingtonite leaves greenish-black, Hornblende leaves grayish-white.
Often found alongside babingtonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with babingtonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Fe²⁺Fe³⁺Si₅O₁₄(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.36-3.37 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Greenish-black
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Sometimes in Groups or Rosettes
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001} and {110}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Igneous Rocks, Often in Cavities of Basalt
- Typical price
- $20-200 depending on specimen size and crystal perfection
Where rockhounds find babingtonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Massachusetts, USA
- Baveno, Italy
- Bombay, India
- Kurama, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in igneous rocks, often in cavities of basalt country, the host setting where babingtonite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, calcite, prehnite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, sometimes in groups or rosettes habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find babingtonite on the map
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