Baghdadite is an extremely rare calcium zirconium silicate mineral found primarily in contact metamorphic zones and skarns. It typically occurs as small, glassy, colorless to pale yellow tabular crystals, often embedded within carbonate-rich host rocks. It is highly sought after by advanced mineral collectors due to its restricted number of known localities worldwide.
Is this baghdadite?
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 baghdadite with a known reference. Baghdadite sits at Mohs ~6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Baghdadite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside baghdadite
Minerals reported to co-occur with baghdadite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃ZrSi₂O₉
- Mohs hardness
- ~6
- Density
- 3.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a melilite skarn in contact with banded diorite, in roof pendant xenoliths of calc-silicate marbles and hornfels
Where rockhounds find baghdadite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dupezeh Mountain, near Hero Town, Qala-Diza region, northeastern Iraq
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a melilite skarn in contact with banded diorite, in roof pendant xenoliths of calc-silicate marbles and hornfels. If you start seeing åkermanite, perovskite, schorlomite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify baghdadite?+
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Find baghdadite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
