Bodieite is a rare bismuth tellurium sulfate, typically colorless to yellow to olive-green. Associated minerals include mixite, pyrite and bismuthinite. It was first described from dumps of the Pittsburg-Liberty mine, Mono Co., California, USA.
Is this bodieite?
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 bodieite with a known reference. Bodieite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Bodieite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Bodieite typically shows a subadamantine to greasy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, yellow, olive-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Bodieite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads subadamantine to greasy on Bodieite and subadamantine on Tellurite.
How to tell apart: Emmonsite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Bodieite leaves white, Emmonsite leaves pale yellow; luster reads subadamantine to greasy on Bodieite and vitreous on Emmonsite.
Often found alongside bodieite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bodieite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Bi³⁺₂(Te⁴⁺O₃)₂(SO₄)
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 6.554 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Subadamantine to Greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Fair On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Hydrothermal Gold-tellurium Veins
Where rockhounds find bodieite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bodie mining district, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized hydrothermal gold-tellurium veins country, the host setting where bodieite typically forms. If you start seeing tellurite, emmonsite, quetzalcoatlite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bodieite?+
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Find bodieite on the map
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