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 2-2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bromargyrite leaves a yellowish-white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bromargyrite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, greenish-yellow, brownish-green, colorless.
- 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
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 6.47 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish-white
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Crusts, Or Rare Cubic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Silver Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and clarity
Where rockhounds find bromargyrite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Broken Hill, Australia
- Chañarcillo, Chile
- Guanajuato, Mexico
- Tonopah, Nevada, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of silver deposits country — that is the host setting where bromargyrite typically forms. If you start seeing chlorargyrite, iodargyrite, cerussite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, crusts, or rare cubic crystals habit, so 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
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Find bromargyrite on the map
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