Bavsiite is a rare barium vanadium silicate that forms sky-blue platy crystals. It occurs in barium-rich low-temperature skarn related to a porphyritic quartz monzonite stock. It was first described from the Gun Claim, ~4 km southeast of Wilson Lake and 16 km southeast of Itsy Peak, Yukon Territory, Canada.
Is this bavsiite?
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 bavsiite with a known reference. Bavsiite sits at Mohs ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: sky-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Bavsiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Bavenite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. ~4).
How to tell apart: Bertrandite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. ~4).
How to tell apart: Epidote is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. ~4); streak differs, so Bavsiite leaves white, Epidote leaves grayish white.
Often found alongside bavsiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bavsiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂V₂O₂[Si₄O₁₂]
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 4.171 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals
- Cleavage
- Good on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In barium-rich low-temperature skarn related to a porphyritic quartz monzonite stock
Where rockhounds find bavsiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gun Claim, ~4 km southeast of Wilson Lake and 16 km southeast of Itsy Peak, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In barium-rich low-temperature skarn related to a porphyritic quartz monzonite stock. If you start seeing alstonite, baryte, celsian in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bavsiite?+
Where is bavsiite found?+
Is bavsiite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bavsiite?+
What minerals are found with bavsiite?+
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What is bavsiite used for?+
Find bavsiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
