Glucine is a rare beryllium aluminum silicate mineral typically found in granitic pegmatite environments. It forms small, prismatic monoclinic crystals that are often colorless or white and can be distinguished from similar beryllium minerals through analytical testing.
Is this glucine?
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 glucine with a known reference. Glucine sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Glucine leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Glucine typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Glucine vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside glucine
Minerals reported to co-occur with glucine. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Be₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find glucine
Classic worldwide localities
- Russia
- Sweden
- Norway
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites country — that is the host setting where glucine typically forms. If you start seeing beryl, quartz, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify glucine?+
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Find glucine on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
