Gorceixite is a barium-aluminum phosphate mineral typically found as dull, botryoidal or nodular masses in alluvial diamond deposits. Collectors often find it as smooth, pebble-like stones in river gravels, where its hardness and density allow it to survive erosion similar to diamonds.
Is this gorceixite?
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 gorceixite with a known reference. Gorceixite sits at Mohs 6, 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: white, brown, gray white, sky blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: microscopic crystals.
Often confused with
Gorceixite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Gorceixite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 5).
How to tell apart: Gorceixite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 4.5-5); luster reads vitreous on Gorceixite and greasy to resinous, pearly on cleavages on Goyazite.
How to tell apart: Gorceixite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 4.5).
Often found alongside gorceixite
Minerals reported to co-occur with gorceixite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaAl₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₅·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.036-3.185 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- Probably always a secondary mineral; in novaculites and other sedimentary rocks; in carbonatites; from hydrothermal argillic alteration zones; in topaz greisen; in the fine-grained fraction of soils
Where rockhounds find gorceixite
Classic worldwide localities
- Zig Zag Mountains, about 10 km northeast of Hot Springs, Garland Co., Arkansas, USA
- Silver Mine area, Madison Co., Missouri, USA
- Indian Mountain, Cherokee Co., Alabama, USA
- Minas Gerais, along the Rio Abaeté, Rio Bagagem, and Rio Douradinho, near Curralinho and Dattas, Diamantina, and in the Araxá carbonatite, containing an estimated 20 million tons, Brazil
- Goyaz, in the Rio Paranaíba and at Veríssimo, Brazil
- São Paulo, in the Rio Canoas and at Patrocínio de Sapucahy, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Probably always a secondary mineral; in novaculites and other sedimentary rocks; in carbonatites; from hydrothermal argillic alteration zones; in topaz greisen; in the fine-grained fraction of soils. If you start seeing dawsonite, alumohydrocalcite, nordstrandite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find gorceixite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
