Béhierite
A variety of Minerals
What is Béhierite?
Béhierite is a very rare mineral, a natural tantalum borate of the formula (Ta,Nb)BO4. Béhierite is also one of the most simple tantalum minerals. It contains simple tetrahedral borate anions, instead of more common among minerals, planar BO3 groups. It forms a solid solution with its niobium-analogue, schiavinatoite. Both have zircon-type structure (tetragonal, space group I41/amd) and are found in pegmatites. Béhierite and holtite are minerals with essential tantalum and boron. Béhierite was named for Jean Béhier (1903–1965), who discovered the mineral in 1959, as a French mineralogist, active in the Service Géologique, on the island of Madagascar.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Béhierite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Béhierite Localities Map
See where Béhierite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Formation of Béhierite
Béhierite occurs in granitic pegmatites in Manjaka and Antsongombato, Madagascar. Associated minerals are albite, manganese-bearing apatite-group mineral, lepidolite, elbaite or elbaite–liddicoatite, feldspar, pollucite, quartz, rhodizite, and schiavinatoite.
Composition of Béhierite
Crystal structure of synthetic TaBO4 was refined by Range et al. (1996). As béhierite is analogous to schiavinatoite, their crystal structures are expected to be similar.
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Greyish pink; pale lilac; colorless to white
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 7 - 7.5
- Density
- 7.91 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- (Ta5+,Nb5+)(BO4)
- Elements
- B, Nb, O, Ta
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Béhierite FAQs
How do I identify Béhierite?
Béhierite can be identified by its hardness of 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale, Greyish pink; pale lilac; colorless to white color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Béhierite?
Béhierite typically appears in Greyish pink; pale lilac; colorless to white. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Béhierite?
Béhierite has a hardness of 7 - 7.5 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a relatively hard mineral suitable for jewelry.
What is the formation of béhierite of Béhierite?
Béhierite occurs in granitic pegmatites in Manjaka and Antsongombato, Madagascar. Associated minerals are albite, manganese-bearing apatite-group mineral, lepidolite, elbaite or elbaite–liddicoatite, feldspar, pollucite, quartz, rhodizite, and schiavinatoite.
What is the composition of béhierite of Béhierite?
Crystal structure of synthetic TaBO4 was refined by Range et al. (1996). As béhierite is analogous to schiavinatoite, their crystal structures are expected to be similar.
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