Bederite is a very rare manganese-rich member of the garnet group primarily identified from specific manganese deposits in South Africa. It typically presents as small, yellowish to brownish-yellow dodecahedral crystals that require analytical verification to distinguish from other similar garnets. Collectors value it highly due to its scarcity and distinct chemical composition compared to more common garnet species.
Is this bederite?
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 bederite with a known reference. Bederite 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. Bederite leaves a dark olive-green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bederite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: ellipsoidal masses.
Often confused with
Bederite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Andradite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 5); streak differs, so Bederite leaves dark olive-green, Andradite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Bederite and adamantine to resinous to dull on Andradite.
How to tell apart: Spessartine is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7.5 vs. 5); streak differs, so Bederite leaves dark olive-green, Spessartine leaves white.
How to tell apart: Goldmanite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6.5-7 vs. 5); streak differs, so Bederite leaves dark olive-green, Goldmanite leaves white.
Often found alongside bederite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bederite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃(Mn³⁺,Fe³⁺)₂(SiO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.48 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark Olive-green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Ellipsoidal Masses
- Cleavage
- {100}, Good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphic Manganese Deposits
Where rockhounds find bederite
Classic worldwide localities
- The El Penon pegmatite in the El Quemado pegmatite field, Nevados de Palermo, Salta Province, Argentina
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphic manganese deposits country, the host setting where bederite typically forms. If you start seeing bixbyite, braunite, hausmannite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a ellipsoidal masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bederite?+
Where is bederite found?+
What rocks look like bederite?+
What minerals are found with bederite?+
What kind of rock does bederite form in?+
What is bederite used for?+
Find bederite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
