Welshite is a very rare member of the sapphirine supergroup, primarily found in the metamorphosed manganese-iron ore deposits of Sweden. It typically appears as dark, brownish-black subhedral grains and is highly sought after by mineral collectors for its unique beryllium-bearing composition.
Is this welshite?
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 welshite with a known reference. Welshite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Welshite leaves a brownish-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Welshite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark brown, black, reddish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral to subhedral grains, rare prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Welshite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sapphirine is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 5); streak differs — Welshite leaves brownish-yellow, Sapphirine leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Welshite leaves brownish-yellow, Aenigmatite leaves reddish-brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Welshite leaves brownish-yellow, Rhönite leaves brownish grey.
Often found alongside welshite
Minerals reported to co-occur with welshite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄Mg₄Fe³⁺₄Si₄Be₂O₂₀
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- Brownish-yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral to Subhedral Grains, Rare Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Iron-manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find welshite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
- Jakobsberg, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed iron-manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where welshite typically forms. If you start seeing calcite, dolomite, phlogopite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral to subhedral grains, rare prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find welshite on the map
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