Hurlbutite is a rare beryllium phosphate mineral typically found in granitic pegmatites. It often forms colorless or pale, vitreous crystals that can be easily mistaken for quartz or danburite without chemical testing.
Is this hurlbutite?
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 hurlbutite with a known reference. Hurlbutite 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. Hurlbutite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hurlbutite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, pale yellow, pale green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: equant to short prismatic crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Hurlbutite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hurlbutite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hurlbutite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaBe₂P₂O₈
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 2.88 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Equant to Short Prismatic Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-200 per specimen depending on size and crystal quality
Where rockhounds find hurlbutite
Classic worldwide localities
- Newry, Maine, USA
- Pala, California, USA
- Varuträsk, Sweden
- Norrö, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where hurlbutite typically forms. If you start seeing beryllonite, eosphorite, triplite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant to short prismatic crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hurlbutite on the map
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