Schneebergite is a rare bismuth cobalt arsenate that forms brown to beige crystals. It occurs in oxidized mining waste. It was first described from dump material in the "Am Roten Berg" mining area, ~5 km southwest of Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany.
Is this schneebergite?
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 schneebergite with a known reference. Schneebergite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Schneebergite leaves a pale brown to nearly white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Schneebergite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, beige.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crystals.
Often confused with
Schneebergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schneebergite leaves pale brown to nearly white, Stibiconite leaves light yellow; luster reads adamantine on Schneebergite and pearly to earthy on Stibiconite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schneebergite leaves pale brown to nearly white, Bindheimite leaves white, yellowish white; luster reads adamantine on Schneebergite and earthy on Bindheimite.
Often found alongside schneebergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schneebergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BiCo₂(AsO₄)₂(OH)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 5.28 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale Brown to Nearly White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Vein Deposits
Where rockhounds find schneebergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Kremnica, Slovakia
- Catorce, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal vein deposits country, the host setting where schneebergite typically forms. If you start seeing stibnite, quartz, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find schneebergite on the map
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