Bromargyrite is a rare silver halide mineral typically found in the oxidized zones of silver-rich mineral deposits. It often appears as small, waxy, yellowish or greenish masses or crusts and is known to be photosensitive, darkening when exposed to strong light over time.
Is this bromargyrite?
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 bromargyrite with a known reference. Bromargyrite sits at Mohs 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 to yellowish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous to adamantine, waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, greenish brown, gray green, grayish yellow, olive green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, crusts, or rare cubic crystals.
Often confused with
Bromargyrite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bromargyrite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bromargyrite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AgBr
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.474 g/cm³
- Streak
- White to yellowish white
- Luster
- Resinous to adamantine, waxy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, crusts, or rare cubic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of silver deposits, notably in arid regions
Where rockhounds find bromargyrite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bisbee, Tombstone, and the Commonwealth mine, Pearce, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Silver City district, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
- Silver Cliff, Custer Co., and on Horse Mountain, 13 km south of Eagle, Eagle Co., Colorado, USA
- Huelgoet, Finistère, France
- Schöne Aussicht mine, near Dernbach, and at Bad Ems, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Charcas, San Luis Potosi, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in the oxidation zones of silver deposits, notably in arid regions. If you start seeing silver, iodargyrite, smithsonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, crusts, or rare cubic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Texas. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify bromargyrite?+
Where is bromargyrite found?+
Can I find bromargyrite in the United States?+
Is bromargyrite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like bromargyrite?+
What minerals are found with bromargyrite?+
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Find bromargyrite on the map
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