Verbierite is a rare beryllium chromium titanium oxide. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2015. It was first described from Savoleyres, north of Verbier, Wallis, Switzerland.
Is this verbierite?
4-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 verbierite with a known reference. Verbierite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark gray, black.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Verbierite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside verbierite
Minerals reported to co-occur with verbierite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BeCr³⁺₂TiO₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- dolomite marble
Where rockhounds find verbierite
Classic worldwide localities
- Savoleyres, north of Verbier, Wallis, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: dolomite marble. If you start seeing realgar, pyrite, sartorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify verbierite?+
Where is verbierite found?+
Is verbierite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like verbierite?+
What minerals are found with verbierite?+
What kind of rock does verbierite form in?+
What is verbierite used for?+
Find verbierite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
