Bahianite is an exceptionally rare aluminum antimony mineral found primarily in the diamond-bearing gravels of the Bahia state in Brazil. It is highly valued by collectors and lapidaries for its extreme hardness, which rivals that of chrysoberyl, and its vibrant yellow to brownish-yellow color.
Is this bahianite?
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 bahianite with a known reference. Bahianite sits at Mohs 8.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bahianite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bahianite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-brown, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: equant to prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Bahianite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bahianite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bahianite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₅Sb₃O₁₄(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 8.5
- Density
- 4.95 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Equant to Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Gemstone
- Host rock
- Alluvial Diamond Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 per gram for gem-quality specimens
Where rockhounds find bahianite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bahia, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in alluvial diamond deposits country — that is the host setting where bahianite typically forms. If you start seeing kyanite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant to prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bahianite on the map
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