Bohseite is a rare beryllium silicate mineral that typically forms as delicate, fibrous, or acicular radiating clusters. It is almost exclusively found in highly evolved pegmatites and is best identified through laboratory analysis due to its visual similarity to other beryllium silicates like bavenite.
Is this bohseite?
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 bohseite with a known reference. Bohseite sits at Mohs 5-6, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters.
Often confused with
Bohseite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bohseite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bohseite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄Be₄Al₀Si₉O₂₅₋₂₄(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 2.719 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}, fair on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In strongly fractionated parts of zoned anatectic (NYF-LCT) pegmatite dikes that cut amphibolite
Where rockhounds find bohseite
Classic worldwide localities
- Piława Górna quarry, eastern part of the Góry Sowie Block, NE part of the Bohemian massif, ∼50 km southwest of Wrocław, Poland and from the Ilímaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In strongly fractionated parts of zoned anatectic (NYF-LCT) pegmatite dikes that cut amphibolite. If you start seeing microcline, cs-rich beryl, phenakite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, radiating clusters. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bohseite?+
Where is bohseite found?+
Is bohseite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bohseite?+
What minerals are found with bohseite?+
What kind of rock does bohseite form in?+
What is bohseite used for?+
Find bohseite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
