Bodieite is a rare bismuth tellurium sulfate, typically colorless to yellow to olive-green. Associated minerals include mixite, pyrite and bismuthinite. It was first described from dumps of the Pittsburg-Liberty mine, Mono Co., California, USA.
Is this bodieite?
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 bodieite with a known reference. Bodieite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subadamantine to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, yellow, olive-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Bodieite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bodieite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bodieite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi³⁺₂(Te⁴⁺O₃)₂(SO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 6.554 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Subadamantine to greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, crusts
- Cleavage
- Fair on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An oxidation-zone mineral in vugs in polymetallic (Au-Ag-Cu-Pb) vein deposits emplaced in contact-metamorphosed dolomite (Tintic) or a volcanogenic fault-breccia deposit emplaced in granodiorite (Pittsbug-Liberty mine)
Where rockhounds find bodieite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bodie mining district, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An oxidation-zone mineral in vugs in polymetallic (Au-Ag-Cu-Pb) vein deposits emplaced in contact-metamorphosed dolomite (Tintic) or a volcanogenic fault-breccia deposit emplaced in granodiorite (Pittsbug-Liberty mine). If you start seeing mixite, pyrite, bismuthinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bodieite?+
Where is bodieite found?+
Is bodieite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bodieite?+
What minerals are found with bodieite?+
What kind of rock does bodieite form in?+
What is bodieite used for?+
Find bodieite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
