Bradleyite is a rare phosphate-carbonate mineral primarily associated with the evaporite sequences of the Green River Formation. It typically occurs as small, pale, equant crystals or masses embedded within oil shale and trona beds, making it a prized acquisition for collectors of rare evaporite species.
Is this bradleyite?
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 bradleyite with a known reference. Bradleyite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bradleyite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bradleyite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, gray, yellowish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: equant to tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Bradleyite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bradleyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bradleyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₃Mg(PO₄)(CO₃)
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 2.73 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Equant to Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Evaporite Deposits in Lacustrine Sedimentary Rocks
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen
Where rockhounds find bradleyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Green River Formation, Wyoming, USA
- Boron, California, USA
- Yichang, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in evaporite deposits in lacustrine sedimentary rocks country — that is the host setting where bradleyite typically forms. If you start seeing shortite, northupite, trona in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant to tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bradleyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
