Images
Formula: Be3(Sc,Fe3+,Mg)2Si6O18.Na0.32.nH2O
Cyclosilicate (ring silicate), beryl group,
beryllium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Hexagonal
Specific gravity: 2.77 to 2.8 measured, 2.82 calculated
Hardness: 6½ to 7
Streak: White
Colour: Deep blue or other shades of blue, blue-green
Common impurities: Fe,Mn,Mg,Li,Na,K,Rb,Cs
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Pegmatites
Hydrothermal environments
Bazzite is found in miarolitic cavities in granite,
granite
pegmatites and in Alpine veins associated with
pegmatitic minerals.
The blue colour is caused by appreciable iron contents, and the intensity of the colour is determined by the
ratio of Fe2+ to Fe3+
(Mindat).
Localities
At the type Locality, the Seula mine, Mount Camoscio, Oltrefiume, Baveno, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont,
Italy, bazzite occurs in miarolitic cavities in granite,
associated with quartz, orthoclase,
muscovite, laumontite and
albite
(HOM).
At the Heftetjern pegmatite, Tørdal, Drangedal, Vestfold og Telemark, Norway, bazzite occurs in the
granite
pegmatite associated with
beryl and bavenite
(HOM).
At Val Strem, Tujetsch, Surselva Region, Grisons, Switzerland, bazzite occurs in alpine veins associated with
quartz, hematite,
calcite, chlorite,
albite and fluorite
(HOM).
At the Farview area, Mount Rosa, El Paso county, Colorado, USA, beryl is absent,
but late-stage to secondary
beryllium-bearing minerals are present. Bazzite occurs in small vugs
within a quartz vein, associated with
pyrite, magnetite and
goethite
(R&M 95.3.271-272).
In New Hampshire, USA, bazzite has been reported from the Government pit Albany, North Sugarloaf Mountain
Bethlehem and Iron Mountain mine Bartlett. The bazzite occurs in NYF
pegmatites as minute, transparent, intensely blue crystals
less than 2 mm long. The crystals are found in small miaroles associated with
quartz, albite and sometimes other
beryllium species
(R&M 97.2.211-212).
Back to Minerals