Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2010-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
benitoite

Chemical Group:   silicate

Chemical Formula:   BaTiSi₃O₉

Color:    sapphire blue, light blue, colorless                                                                     

Streak:

Hardness:   6.2 to 6.5              Specific Gravity:     3.6            

Fracture:

Cleavage:

Crystal Forms:  Hexagonal system

Mineral Associations:  found with neptunite and natrolite

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:

Occurrences:   San Benito River, San Benito County, California
                              also Japan and Arkansas

Toxicity:      when-swallowed-                            when inhaled-

Additional Information:  fluorescent light blue under short wave ultraviolet light
                                             Official state gemstone of California