Brianyoungite is a rare zinc carbonate mineral typically found as small, delicate white platy or micaceous crusts. It is most famous from the Northern Pennine Orefield in England, where it occurs as an oxidation product of zinc-bearing ores.
Is this brianyoungite?
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 brianyoungite with a known reference. Brianyoungite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, rosettes.
Often confused with
Brianyoungite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Brianyoungite and pearly, silky to dull or earthy in aggregates on Hydrozincite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Brianyoungite leaves white, Aurichalcite leaves light blue; luster reads vitreous on Brianyoungite and silky to pearly on Aurichalcite.
Often found alongside brianyoungite
Minerals reported to co-occur with brianyoungite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn₃CO₃(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 3.93-4.09 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, crusts, rosettes
- Cleavage
- On {100}, perfect; another perpendicular, probably on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary post-mine mineral in limestone-hosted oxidized Pb–Zn ores (Brownley Hill mine, England)
Where rockhounds find brianyoungite
Classic worldwide localities
- Brownley Hill mine, near Alston, and the Smallcleugh mine, Nenthead, Cumbria, England
- Altenberg, near Aachen, Belgium
- Alexander and Bastenberg mines, Ramsbeck, Sauerland, Germany
- Marie mine, Wilnsdorf, Siegerland, Germany
- Friedrichssegen mine, near Bad Ems, and in the Katzental area, near Nothweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Neue Fröhlichkeit mine, near St. Andreasberg, Harz Mountains, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary post-mine mineral in limestone-hosted oxidized Pb–Zn ores (Brownley Hill mine, England). If you start seeing gypsum, smithsonite, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, rosettes. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find brianyoungite on the map
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