Bernalite is a rare iron hydroxide mineral typically found as small, dark green pseudo-cubic crystals. Collectors primarily seek it from the oxidized portions of lead-zinc deposits, where it is often associated with other rare oxidation products.
Is this bernalite?
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 bernalite with a known reference. Bernalite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bernalite leaves a yellowish green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bernalite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark emerald green, blackish green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: pseudo-cubic crystals, tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Bernalite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Bernalite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — Bernalite leaves yellowish green, Ludlockite leaves yellow-orange; luster reads vitreous on Bernalite and resinous on Ludlockite.
How to tell apart: Iron Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs — Bernalite leaves yellowish green, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads vitreous on Bernalite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside bernalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bernalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe(OH)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 4.87 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Pseudo-cubic Crystals, Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Hydrothermal Base-metal Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300+ for high-quality micro-specimens
Where rockhounds find bernalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
- Tsumeb, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of hydrothermal base-metal ore deposits country — that is the host setting where bernalite typically forms. If you start seeing ludlockite, goethite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pseudo-cubic crystals, tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bernalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
