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 — 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 — that is 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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