Béhierite is a rare tantalum borate mineral primarily found in complex granitic pegmatites. It typically occurs as small, transparent to translucent prismatic crystals that are often mistaken for zircon or other similar pegmatite minerals due to their crystal shape and hardness.
Is this béhierite?
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 béhierite with a known reference. Béhierite sits at Mohs 7-7.5, 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: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Béhierite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside béhierite
Minerals reported to co-occur with béhierite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- TaBO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 7-7.5
- Density
- 7.86 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pink gray
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic crystals
- Cleavage
- On {110} and {010}, distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Mineralogical research
- Host rock
- Very rare, in granite pegmatites
Where rockhounds find béhierite
Classic worldwide localities
- Animikie Red Ace pegmatite, near Pine River, Florence Co., Wisconsin, USA
- Manjaka and Antsongombato, south of Betafo, Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Very rare, in granite pegmatites. If you start seeing elbaite, pollucite, manganoan apatite 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 béhierite?+
Where is béhierite found?+
What rocks look like béhierite?+
What minerals are found with béhierite?+
What kind of rock does béhierite form in?+
What is béhierite used for?+
Find béhierite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
