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Beckettite is a rare copper vanadium mineral found primarily as tiny tabular crystals in oxidized copper deposits. It is a highly sought-after species by advanced collectors due to its limited type locality at the Blue Bell mine in California.

Hardness
4
Mohs
Luster
Submetallic
Streak
Greenish-gray
Transparency
Opaque

Is this beckettite?

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 beckettite with a known reference. Beckettite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
  • 2
    Check the streak
    Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Beckettite leaves a greenish-gray streak.
  • 3
    Read the luster
    Hold the specimen under a strong light. Beckettite typically shows a submetallic luster.
  • 4
    Match the color range
    Compare against the expected color range: dark green, blackish-green.
  • 5
    Look at form & habit
    Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.

Often confused with

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

Volborthite mineral
mineral
Volborthite
Mohs 3-3.5

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Beckettite leaves greenish-gray, Volborthite leaves yellowish-green; luster reads submetallic on Beckettite and vitreous on Volborthite.

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Often found alongside beckettite

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

All properties

Chemical formula
Cu₂V₂O₇
Mohs hardness
4
Density
5.35 g/cm³
Colors
Dark GreenBlackish-green
Streak
Greenish-gray
Luster
Submetallic
Transparency
Opaque
Crystal system
Triclinic
Crystal habit
Tabular Crystals
Cleavage
Good
Rarity
Rare
Uses
Collector
Host rock
Oxidized Hydrothermal Zones
Typical price
$100-500 per specimen

Where rockhounds find beckettite

Classic worldwide localities

  • Blue Bell mine, California, USA

Field-hunting tip

Look in oxidized hydrothermal zones country, the host setting where beckettite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, barite, mottramite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify beckettite?+
Mohs hardness is 4. It typically shows a submetallic luster. The streak is greenish-gray. Common colors include dark green, blackish-green.
Where is beckettite found?+
Notable localities include Blue Bell mine, California, USA.
How much is beckettite worth?+
Typical asking prices fall in the range of $100-500 per specimen. Quality, size, and provenance can move individual specimens well outside that range.
What rocks look like beckettite?+
Beckettite is most often confused with Volborthite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.
What minerals are found with beckettite?+
Beckettite commonly co-occurs with calcite, barite, mottramite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.
What kind of rock does beckettite form in?+
Beckettite typically forms in oxidized hydrothermal zones. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.
What is beckettite used for?+
Beckettite is used in collector.

Find beckettite on the map

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