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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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
How do you identify billietite?+
Where is billietite found?+
How much is billietite worth?+
Is billietite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like billietite?+
What minerals are found with billietite?+
What kind of rock does billietite form in?+
What is billietite used for?+
Find billietite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
