Pellyite is a rare barium iron calcium silicate mineral typically found in metamorphic or metasomatic environments rich in barium. It usually occurs as small, pale yellow to brown granular masses and is highly prized by mineral collectors of rare species from the Yukon territories.
Is this pellyite?
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 pellyite with a known reference. Pellyite 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: colorless, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Pellyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside pellyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pellyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂CaFe₂Si₆O₁₇
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.51 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Prismatic, poorly developed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In lenses and bands of barium silicate rocks developed in metamorphic skarns near the contact with granite or granodiorite
Where rockhounds find pellyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Trumbull Peak, near Incline, Mariposa Co., and at Big Creek, Fresno Co., California, USA
- La Madrelena mine, Tres Pozos, Baja California, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In lenses and bands of barium silicate rocks developed in metamorphic skarns near the contact with granite or granodiorite. If you start seeing barite, hedenbergite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pellyite?+
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What rocks look like pellyite?+
What minerals are found with pellyite?+
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Find pellyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
