Schneebergite is a rare bismuth cobalt arsenate that forms brown to beige crystals. It occurs in oxidized mining waste. It was first described from dump material in the "Am Roten Berg" mining area, ~5 km southwest of Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany.
Is this schneebergite?
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 schneebergite with a known reference. Schneebergite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale brown to nearly white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, beige.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, tabular.
Often confused with
Schneebergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Stibiconite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-7 vs. 4-4.5); streak differs, so Schneebergite leaves pale brown to nearly white, Stibiconite leaves light yellow; luster reads adamantine on Schneebergite and pearly, opaline, glassy to earthy on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schneebergite leaves pale brown to nearly white, Bindheimite leaves white, yellowish white; luster reads adamantine on Schneebergite and resinous, dull, earthy on Bindheimite.
Often found alongside schneebergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schneebergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BiCo₂(AsO₄)₂(OH)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 5.28 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale brown to nearly white
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals, tabular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In oxidized mining waste
Where rockhounds find schneebergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Kremnica, Slovakia
- Catorce, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In oxidized mining waste. If you start seeing nickelschneebergite, quartz, scorodite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find schneebergite on the map
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