Balyakinite is a rare copper tellurite mineral typically found as small, bright green platy crystals or thin crusts in oxidized ore zones. It is primarily sought by advanced mineral collectors specializing in tellurium species and is best identified by its distinct green color and association with other rare secondary tellurium minerals.
Is this balyakinite?
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 balyakinite with a known reference. Balyakinite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Balyakinite leaves a pale yellow-green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Balyakinite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, aggregates.
Often confused with
Balyakinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Balyakinite leaves pale yellow-green, Teineite leaves pale blue.
How to tell apart: Malachite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); streak differs — Balyakinite leaves pale yellow-green, Malachite leaves light green.
Often found alongside balyakinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with balyakinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CuTeO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 5.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow-green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Tellurium-bearing Hydrothermal Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and crystal quality
Where rockhounds find balyakinite
Classic worldwide localities
- North Star mine, Tintic District, Utah, USA
- Bambollita mine, Sonora, Mexico
- Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized tellurium-bearing hydrothermal deposits country — that is the host setting where balyakinite typically forms. If you start seeing quetzalcoatlite, paratellurite, emmonsite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find balyakinite on the map
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