Bromellite is a rare beryllium oxide mineral that is highly sought after by collectors due to its exceptional hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. It typically forms as small, colorless or white prismatic crystals in high-temperature metamorphic environments like skarns. Given its extreme rarity and the toxic nature of its beryllium content, it is primarily found in advanced mineral collections.
Is this bromellite?
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 bromellite with a known reference. Bromellite sits at Mohs 9 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bromellite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bromellite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Bromellite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Bromellite is noticeably harder (Mohs 9 vs. 7).
How to tell apart: Bromellite is noticeably harder (Mohs 9 vs. 7.5-8).
How to tell apart: Bromellite is noticeably harder (Mohs 9 vs. 4); streak differs — Bromellite leaves white, Zincite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads vitreous on Bromellite and sub-adamantine on Zincite.
Often found alongside bromellite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bromellite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BeO
- Mohs hardness
- 9
- Density
- 3.01 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Good On {1010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Limestone, Skarn Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find bromellite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
- Franklin, New Jersey, USA
- Caspar quarry, Ettringer Bellerberg, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed limestone, skarn deposits country — that is the host setting where bromellite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, magnetite, andradite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find bromellite on the map
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