Bouškaite is a rare molybdenum hydroxide, typically colorless to light beige. It is a secondary, post-mining mineral from a mine dump formed from weathered primary jordisite and pyrite. It was first described from dumps of the Lill shaft, near Příbram, central Bohemia, Czech Republic.
Is this bouškaite?
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 bouškaite with a known reference. Bouškaite 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 to light gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, light beige.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating sprays.
Often confused with
Bouškaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bouškaite leaves white to light gray, Jarosite leaves pale yellow; luster reads vitreous on Bouškaite and subadamantine to vitreous, resinous on fractures on Jarosite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Bouškaite leaves white to light gray, Copiapite leaves pale yellow; luster reads vitreous on Bouškaite and pearly on {010} on Copiapite.
Often found alongside bouškaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bouškaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (MoO₂)₂O(SO₃OH)₂(H₂O)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.40 g/cm³
- Colors
- ColorlessLight beige
- Streak
- White to light gray
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular crystals, radiating sprays
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- oxidized hydrothermal pyrite deposits
Where rockhounds find bouškaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Czech Republic
- Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: oxidized hydrothermal pyrite deposits. If you start seeing jarosite, gypsum, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular crystals, radiating sprays. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bouškaite on the map
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