Billietite is a rare barium-uranium oxide mineral that typically forms bright yellow, thin tabular crystals. Collectors prize its sharp, pseudo-hexagonal morphology, though it is primarily found in the oxidized zones of uranium-rich ore deposits. Due to its radioactive nature, it should be stored with appropriate radiation shielding and handling precautions.
Is this billietite?
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 billietite with a known reference. Billietite 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. Billietite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Billietite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, amber-yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, often pseudo-hexagonal with striations.
Often confused with
Billietite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Billietite leaves yellow, Vandenbrandeite leaves light green.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Billietite and adamantine on Becquerelite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Billietite leaves yellow, Fourmarierite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads vitreous on Billietite and adamantine on Fourmarierite.
Often found alongside billietite
Minerals reported to co-occur with billietite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba(UO₂)₆O₄(OH)₆·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 5.33 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Often Pseudo-hexagonal with Striations
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Fluorescence
- Yellow-green Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find billietite
Classic worldwide localities
- Shinkolobwe Mine (DR Congo)
- Margnac Mine (France)
- Assab Mine (Italy)
- Mount Painter (Australia)
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of uranium deposits country, the host setting where billietite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, soddyite, curite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, often pseudo-hexagonal with striations habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find billietite on the map
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