Bityite is a rare lithium-bearing mica species that typically forms as small, pseudohexagonal tabular crystals. It is most commonly found in complex lithium-rich pegmatites and is often associated with other beryllium and lithium minerals.
Is this bityite?
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 bityite with a known reference. Bityite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, 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, pearly on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown white, colorless, yellow, pearl white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: encrustations, platy, pseudo hexagonal.
Often confused with
Bityite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bityite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bityite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaLiAl₂(AlBeSi₂)O₁₀(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 3.02-3.05 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly on cleavages
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations, platy, pseudo hexagonal
- Cleavage
- Perfect micaceous on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Research
- Host rock
- A late-stage mineral in lithium-bearing pegmatites
Where rockhounds find bityite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Strickland quarry, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and the Harding pegmatite, Dixon, Taos Co., New Mexico, USA
- Maharitra, on Mt. Bity, Madagascar
- Namherere mine, Aukole, Uganda
- Huron claims, 16 km north of Point du Bois, Manitoba, Canada
- Pizzo Marcio, Val Vigezzo, Piedmont, Italy
- Maantienvarsi pegmatite dike, Eräjärvi pegmatite area, Orivesi, Finland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage mineral in lithium-bearing pegmatites. If you start seeing tourmaline, albite, lepidolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations, platy, pseudo hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Mexico. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify bityite?+
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Can I find bityite in the United States?+
Is bityite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bityite?+
What minerals are found with bityite?+
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Find bityite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
