Bieberite is a rare, water-soluble sulfate mineral characterized by its distinct rose-red to pink color. It typically forms as efflorescent crusts or fibrous aggregates in the oxidation zones of cobalt-rich hydrothermal veins.
Is this bieberite?
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 bieberite with a known reference. Bieberite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bieberite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bieberite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, pink, rose-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous, efflorescent crusts, stalactitic.
Often confused with
Bieberite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bieberite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bieberite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CoSO₄·7H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.92 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, Efflorescent Crusts, Stalactitic
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Cobalt-bearing Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find bieberite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Riechelsdorf, Germany
- Bisbee, Arizona, USA
- Jachymov, Czech Republic
- Sierra Gorda, Chile
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of cobalt-bearing ore deposits country — that is the host setting where bieberite typically forms. If you start seeing erythrite, cobaltite, safflorite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous, efflorescent crusts, stalactitic habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify bieberite?+
Where is bieberite found?+
Can I find bieberite in the United States?+
How much is bieberite worth?+
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What rocks look like bieberite?+
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Find bieberite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
