Bamfordite is a rare hydrated iron molybdenum oxide mineral known primarily from the Bamford Hill mine in Australia. It typically occurs as small, delicate red platy crystals within quartz cavities. It is a highly sought-after specimen for advanced micromount collectors due to its limited type locality and distinct habit.
Is this bamfordite?
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 bamfordite with a known reference. Bamfordite 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: greenish yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, earthy in aggregates.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: aggregates, earthy.
Often confused with
Bamfordite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bamfordite leaves greenish yellow, Molybdite leaves white; luster reads vitreous, earthy in aggregates on Bamfordite and adamantine on Molybdite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bamfordite leaves greenish yellow, Ferrimolybdite leaves pale yellow; luster reads vitreous, earthy in aggregates on Bamfordite and adamantine to silky, earthy on Ferrimolybdite.
Often found alongside bamfordite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bamfordite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe³⁺Mo₂O₆(OH)₃·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.620 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Greenish yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous, earthy in aggregates
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, earthy
- Cleavage
- {100}, traces
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Formed in miarolitic cavities and vugs by oxidation of molybdenite under strongly acidic conditions in a W–Mo–Bi deposit
Where rockhounds find bamfordite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bamford Hill, 85 km west-southwest of Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Formed in miarolitic cavities and vugs by oxidation of molybdenite under strongly acidic conditions in a W–Mo–Bi deposit. If you start seeing w–mo–bi oxides, clay, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, earthy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bamfordite?+
Where is bamfordite found?+
What rocks look like bamfordite?+
What minerals are found with bamfordite?+
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What is bamfordite used for?+
Find bamfordite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
