Bairdite is a very rare lead manganese tellurite mineral discovered at the Otto Mountain locality. It typically occurs as minute, thin tabular lime-green crystals within vugs of oxidized ore, often requiring magnification for proper identification.
Is this bairdite?
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 bairdite with a known reference. Bairdite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale lime-green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: lime-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Bairdite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bairdite leaves pale lime-green, Calcite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Bairdite and vitreous; pearly on cleavages and {0001} on Calcite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bairdite leaves pale lime-green, Mimetite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Bairdite and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
Often found alongside bairdite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bairdite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂Cu²⁺₄Te⁶⁺₂O₁₀(OH)₂(SO₄)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 6.062 g/cm³
- Colors
- Lime-green
- Streak
- Pale lime-green
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in vugs in quartz formed from the partial oxidation of primary sulfides and tellurides during or following the brecciation of quartz veins
Where rockhounds find bairdite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bird Nest drift, SW flank of Otto Mountain, near Baker, San Bernardino County, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in vugs in quartz formed from the partial oxidation of primary sulfides and tellurides during or following the brecciation of quartz veins. If you start seeing khinite, cerussite, goethite 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 bairdite?+
Where is bairdite found?+
Is bairdite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bairdite?+
What minerals are found with bairdite?+
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Find bairdite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
