Nabiasite is a very rare arsenate mineral originally discovered in the Pyrenees mountains of France. It typically occurs as small, sharp dodecahedral crystals in manganese-bearing mineral assemblages.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

Dark yellow, almost orange

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Nabiasite

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: Dark yellow, almost orange
Transparency: Transparent

Is this nabiasite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch nabiasite with a known reference. Nabiasite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: dark yellow, almost orange.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: dark red.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.

Often confused with

Nabiasite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Manganberzeliite

Mohs 4.5-5

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nabiasite leaves dark yellow, almost orange, Manganberzeliite leaves white to yellow-orange; luster reads vitreous on Nabiasite and resinous on Manganberzeliite.

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Often found alongside nabiasite

Minerals reported to co-occur with nabiasite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: BaMn₉(VO₄)₆(OH)₂
Mohs hardness: 5
Density: 4.307 g/cm³
Colors: Dark red
Streak: Dark yellow, almost orange
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Cubic
Crystal habit: Anhedral grains
Cleavage: None
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In an upper-greenschist-facies metamorphosed syn-sedimentary exhalative Mn deposit in radiolarian cherts along veinlets mineralized by hydrothermal remobilization

Where rockhounds find nabiasite

Classic worldwide localities

Pla de Labasse deposit, near Nabias hamlet, Central Pyrenees, France

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In an upper-greenschist-facies metamorphosed syn-sedimentary exhalative Mn deposit in radiolarian cherts along veinlets mineralized by hydrothermal remobilization. If you start seeing rhodochrosite, barite, friedelite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify nabiasite?+

Mohs hardness is 5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is dark yellow, almost orange. Common colors include dark red.

Where is nabiasite found?+

Notable localities include Pla de Labasse deposit, near Nabias hamlet, Central Pyrenees, France.

Is nabiasite safe to handle?+

Nabiasite contains vanadium. Contains arsenic, which is toxic. Handle with care, avoid creating dust, and wash hands thoroughly after handling.

What rocks look like nabiasite?+

Nabiasite is most often confused with Manganberzeliite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with nabiasite?+

Nabiasite commonly co-occurs with Rhodochrosite, Barite, Friedelite, Quartz. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does nabiasite form in?+

Where it forms: In an upper-greenschist-facies metamorphosed syn-sedimentary exhalative Mn deposit in radiolarian cherts along veinlets mineralized by hydrothermal remobilization. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is nabiasite used for?+

Nabiasite is used in collector.

Find nabiasite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.