Bazzite is a rare scandium-rich member of the beryl group, often appearing as tiny, vibrant blue to blue-green prismatic crystals. Collectors typically find them in alpine-type veins or granite pegmatites associated with other rare earth minerals. They are highly prized for their intense color, though crystals are usually quite small.
Is this bazzite?
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 bazzite with a known reference. Bazzite sits at Mohs 6.5-7 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bazzite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bazzite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, blue-green, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, often striated.
Often confused with
Bazzite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bazzite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bazzite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Be₃Sc₂Si₆O₁₈
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 2.76-2.80 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Often Striated
- Cleavage
- Poor On Basal Pinacoid
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Alpine-type Fissures
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find bazzite
Classic worldwide localities
- Baveno, Italy
- Habachtal, Austria
- Urals, Russia
- California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites, hydrothermal alpine-type fissures country — that is the host setting where bazzite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, orthoclase, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, often striated habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bazzite?+
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Find bazzite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
