Weinebeneite is a rare beryllium phosphate mineral typically found in granitic pegmatites. Collectors usually find it as delicate, colorless to white prismatic crystals or radial sprays occurring within small cavities of weathered pegmatite hosts.
Is this weinebeneite?
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 weinebeneite with a known reference. Weinebeneite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Weinebeneite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Weinebeneite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Weinebeneite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside weinebeneite
Minerals reported to co-occur with weinebeneite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaBe₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 2.16 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $100-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find weinebeneite
Classic worldwide localities
- Weinebene, Carinthia, Austria
- Mangualde, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Look in pegmatites country — that is the host setting where weinebeneite typically forms. If you start seeing beryl, apatite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify weinebeneite?+
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Find weinebeneite on the map
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