Goshenite is the colorless variety of the mineral beryl, often referred to as 'white beryl'. It is prized for its high clarity and excellent durability, though it is often less sought after by collectors than its colored counterparts like emerald or aquamarine.
Is this goshenite?
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 goshenite with a known reference. Goshenite sits at Mohs 7.5-8 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Goshenite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Goshenite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Goshenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside goshenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with goshenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5-8
- Density
- 2.66-2.78 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Imperfect Basal
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Gemstone, Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $10-100 per carat for gem quality
Where rockhounds find goshenite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Goshen, Massachusetts
- Brazil
- Pakistan
- Madagascar
- Afghanistan
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where goshenite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, microcline, albite 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. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Massachusetts — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify goshenite?+
Where is goshenite found?+
Can I find goshenite in the United States?+
How much is goshenite worth?+
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What minerals are found with goshenite?+
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Find goshenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
