Bechererite is a rare secondary mineral found predominantly in the oxidation zones of base metal deposits. It typically forms delicate, pearly-white to pale green platy crusts and aggregates on top of host minerals like smithsonite.
Is this bechererite?
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 bechererite with a known reference. Bechererite 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: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: acicular, druse, spherical.
Often confused with
Bechererite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bechererite leaves white, Aurichalcite leaves light blue; luster reads vitreous on Bechererite and silky to pearly on Aurichalcite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Bechererite and pearly, silky to dull or earthy in aggregates on Hydrozincite.
Often found alongside bechererite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bechererite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn₇Cu(OH)₁₃[SiO(OH)₃SO₄]
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.45 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular, druse, spherical
- Cleavage
- On {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a hydrothermal base-metal deposit (Tonopah-Belmont mine, Arizona, USA); a post-mine mineral (Frongoch mine, Wales)
Where rockhounds find bechererite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tonopah-Belmont mine, Osborne district, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA
- Dyfed, at the Frongoch mine and from the Nantycagl (Eaglebrook) and Esgair Hir mines, Ceulanymaesmawr, Wales
- Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a hydrothermal base-metal deposit (Tonopah-Belmont mine, Arizona, USA); a post-mine mineral (Frongoch mine, Wales). If you start seeing rosasite, willemite, hydrozincite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular, druse, spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bechererite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
