Bavsiite is a rare barium vanadium silicate that forms sky-blue platy crystals. It occurs in barium-rich low-temperature skarn related to a porphyritic quartz monzonite stock. It was first described from the Gun Claim, ~4 km southeast of Wilson Lake and 16 km southeast of Itsy Peak, Yukon Territory, Canada.
Is this bavsiite?
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 bavsiite with a known reference. Bavsiite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bavsiite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bavsiite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: sky-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: platy crystals.
Often confused with
Bavsiite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bavsiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bavsiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba₂V₂O₂[Si₄O₁₂]
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 4.171 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Good On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
Where rockhounds find bavsiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gun Claim, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where bavsiite typically forms. If you start seeing beryl, quartz, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bavsiite?+
Where is bavsiite found?+
What rocks look like bavsiite?+
What minerals are found with bavsiite?+
What kind of rock does bavsiite form in?+
What is bavsiite used for?+
Find bavsiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
