Schumacherite is a rare bismuth vanadate, typically yellow. It is very rare, occurring in the oxidized zone of Bi-rich hydrothermal deposits. Associated minerals include pucherite, namibite and quartz. It was first described from the Pucher shaft, Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany.
Is this schumacherite?
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 schumacherite with a known reference. Schumacherite sits at Mohs ~3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular.
Often confused with
Schumacherite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Atelestite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. ~3); streak differs, so Schumacherite leaves light yellow, Atelestite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Schumacherite and resinous to adamantine on Atelestite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schumacherite leaves light yellow, Mixite leaves pale bluish green; luster reads adamantine on Schumacherite and vitreous, silky in aggregates on Mixite.
Often found alongside schumacherite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schumacherite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi₃O(VO₄)₂(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 6.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Very rare, in the oxidized zone of Bi-rich hydrothermal deposits
Where rockhounds find schumacherite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lodi #4 mine, Spring Creek district, Plumas Co., California, USA
- Mica Lode mine, Eight Mile Park, Fremont Co., Colorado, USA
- Manhattan, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
- Pucher shaft, Wolfgang Maassen mine, and on the Sauschwart mine dump, Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Morass Creek, north of Benambra, Victoria, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Very rare, in the oxidized zone of Bi-rich hydrothermal deposits. If you start seeing pucherite, namibite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find schumacherite on the map
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