Beyerite is a rare secondary bismuth carbonate mineral typically forming as thin, platy, or micaceous yellow to yellowish-white crusts. It is most often identified by its association with primary bismuth minerals in oxidized hydrothermal ore deposits and its characteristic pearly luster.
Is this beyerite?
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 beyerite with a known reference. Beyerite 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: yellow, gray, gray green, yellowish white, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Beyerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside beyerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with beyerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaBi₂O₂(CO₃)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 6.56 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, micaceous aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in hydrothermal mineral deposits and granite pegmatites, formed by alteration of bismuth-bearing sulfides and sulfosalts
Where rockhounds find beyerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Stewart mine, Pala district, and in the Mesa Grande district, San Diego Co., and the Jensen quarry, Riverside Co., California, USA
- Harding mine, Dixon, Taos Co., New Mexico, USA
- Pegmatites in the White Picacho district, Maricopa and Yavapai Cos., and on the Gettysburg claims, Copperopolis, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
- School Section and Mica Lode pegmatites, Eight Mile Park area, Fremont Co., and the Meyers Ranch pegmatite, Park Co., Colorado, USA
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Black Forest, in the Clara mine, near Oberwolfach, from Neubulach, and at Hechtsberg, near Hausach, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in hydrothermal mineral deposits and granite pegmatites, formed by alteration of bismuth-bearing sulfides and sulfosalts. If you start seeing bismutite, bismutostibiconite, atelestite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, micaceous aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify beyerite?+
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Find beyerite on the map
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