Bazirite is a rare barium zirconium silicate belonging to the benitoite group. It is typically found as small, colorless to pale yellow prismatic crystals within alkaline intrusive rock formations.

Hardness

6-6.5

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrareBenitoite Group family

Bazirite

Bazirite is a rare barium zirconium silicate belonging to the benitoite group. It is typically found as small, colorless to pale yellow prismatic crystals within alkaline intrusive rock formations.

Hardness: 6-6.5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Is this bazirite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch bazirite with a known reference. Bazirite sits at Mohs 6-6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.

Often confused with

Bazirite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside bazirite

Minerals reported to co-occur with bazirite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: BaZrSi₃O₉
Mohs hardness: 6-6.5
Density: 3.82 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Hexagonal
Crystal habit: Prismatic crystals
Cleavage: Indistinct on {0001}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A late-stage interstitial mineral in aegirine-riebeckite granite (Rockall Island, Scotland); in granular celsian-bearing rocks near contacts with granite (Big Creek, California, USA)

Where rockhounds find bazirite

Classic worldwide localities

Esquire No. 8 claim, Big Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA
Apex Ridge, Rockall Island, in the North Atlantic Ocean, 294 km west of St. Kilda Island, Outer Hebrides, Scotland

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A late-stage interstitial mineral in aegirine-riebeckite granite (Rockall Island, Scotland); in granular celsian-bearing rocks near contacts with granite (Big Creek, California, USA). If you start seeing elpidite, aegirine, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify bazirite?+

Mohs hardness is 6-6.5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless.

Where is bazirite found?+

Notable localities include Esquire No. 8 claim, Big Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA; Apex Ridge, Rockall Island, in the North Atlantic Ocean, 294 km west of St. Kilda Island, Outer Hebrides, Scotland.

What rocks look like bazirite?+

Bazirite is most often confused with Benitoite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with bazirite?+

Bazirite commonly co-occurs with Elpidite, Aegirine, Albite, Cristobalite, Leucophosphite, Monazite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does bazirite form in?+

Where it forms: A late-stage interstitial mineral in aegirine-riebeckite granite (Rockall Island, Scotland); in granular celsian-bearing rocks near contacts with granite (Big Creek, California, USA). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is bazirite used for?+

Bazirite is used in collector.

Find bazirite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.