Buryatite is an extremely rare sulfate-bearing member of the garnet supergroup discovered in the Baikal region of Russia. It typically occurs as small, tabular crystals within skarn deposits and is highly sought after by advanced mineral systematists.

Hardness

2.5

Mohs

Luster

Dull

Streak

White

Transparency

Transparent to translucent

mineralrareGarnet Group family

Buryatite

Hardness: 2.5
Luster: Dull
Streak: White
Transparency: Transparent to translucent

Is this buryatite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch buryatite with a known reference. Buryatite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: light violet gray.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: disseminated, microscopic crystals, platy.

Often found alongside buryatite

Minerals reported to co-occur with buryatite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₃(Si,Fe,Al)SO₄B(OH)₄(OH,O)₆·12H₂O
Mohs hardness: 2.5
Density: 1.895 g/cm³
Colors: Light violet gray
Streak: White
Luster: Dull
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Crystal system: Trigonal
Crystal habit: Disseminated, microscopic crystals, platy
Cleavage: Perfect {100}
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: From drill core containing frolovite veinlets in kurchatovite-sakhaite ore

Where rockhounds find buryatite

Classic worldwide localities

Solongo deposit, Buryatiya, Russia

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: From drill core containing frolovite veinlets in kurchatovite-sakhaite ore. If you start seeing calcite, magnetite, brucite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: disseminated, microscopic crystals, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify buryatite?+

Mohs hardness is 2.5. Luster: dull. The streak is white. Common colors include light violet gray.

Where is buryatite found?+

Notable localities include Solongo deposit, Buryatiya, Russia.

What minerals are found with buryatite?+

Buryatite commonly co-occurs with Calcite, Magnetite, Brucite, Fluoborite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does buryatite form in?+

Where it forms: From drill core containing frolovite veinlets in kurchatovite-sakhaite ore. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is buryatite used for?+

Buryatite is used in collector.

Find buryatite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.