Baddeleyite is a rare zirconium oxide mineral primarily found in alkaline igneous environments like carbonatites. Collectors typically look for its distinctively twinned, dark-colored monoclinic crystals often associated with heavy accessory minerals.
Is this baddeleyite?
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 baddeleyite with a known reference. Baddeleyite sits at Mohs 6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Baddeleyite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Baddeleyite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brown, yellow, colorless, greenish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, twinned clusters, or granular masses.
Often confused with
Baddeleyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads submetallic on Baddeleyite and adamantine on Cassiterite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Baddeleyite leaves white, Rutile leaves pale brown to yellow; luster reads submetallic on Baddeleyite and metallic to adamantine on Rutile.
How to tell apart: Zircon is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 6.5); luster reads submetallic on Baddeleyite and adamantine on Zircon.
Often found alongside baddeleyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with baddeleyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ZrO₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 5.4-6.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Twinned Clusters, Or Granular Masses
- Cleavage
- Good On {001} and {100}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Ore of Zirconium, Refractory Materials, Collector
- Host rock
- Carbonatites, Alkaline Igneous Rocks, And Kimberlites
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find baddeleyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jacupiranga, Brazil
- Palabora, South Africa
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Sri Lanka
- Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in carbonatites, alkaline igneous rocks, and kimberlites country, the host setting where baddeleyite typically forms. If you start seeing zircon, ilmenite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, twinned clusters, or granular masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find baddeleyite on the map
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