Barioferrite is a rare barium iron oxide belonging to the magnetoplumbite group. It is primarily found in pyrometamorphic geological environments where high-temperature combustion of organic-rich sediments has altered the host rock.
Is this barioferrite?
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 barioferrite with a known reference. Barioferrite 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: brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Barioferrite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Barioferrite leaves brown, Magnetoplumbite leaves dark brown; luster reads submetallic on Barioferrite and metallic, brilliant on Magnetoplumbite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Barioferrite leaves brown, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown; luster reads submetallic on Barioferrite and metallic or submetallic to dull on Hematite.
Often found alongside barioferrite
Minerals reported to co-occur with barioferrite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaFe₁₂O₁₉
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 5.31 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a metamorphosed barite nodule in bituminous Ca-rich rocks of the spurrite-merwinite and pyroxene-hornfels facies
Where rockhounds find barioferrite
Classic worldwide localities
- Haturim Formation (Mottled Zone) on the southern slope of Mount Ye’elim, Israel
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a metamorphosed barite nodule in bituminous Ca-rich rocks of the spurrite-merwinite and pyroxene-hornfels facies. If you start seeing barite, calcite, magnetite 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 barioferrite?+
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What rocks look like barioferrite?+
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Find barioferrite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
