Guide
Babingtonite specimens for sale
12 for sale · $300–$2,500 USD
60 in the gallery
Babingtonite is a silicate mineral that commonly forms prismatic or needle-like crystals with a glassy to resinous luster and a dark green to black color. It often occurs in layered or radial aggregates within hydrothermal veins and contact metamorphic rocks, frequently associated with minerals such as zeolites and calcite. Notable occurrences come from the garnet-bearing veins and schists of China, classic hydrothermal locales in the USA, and Indian deposits that yield well-formed, elongated crystals.
- Formula
- Ca2(Fe,Mn)FeSi5O14(OH)
- Rarity
- Rare
- Stability
- Stable
- Collector interest
- Very High Interest
- Classification notes
- Inosilicate, babingtonite group (Strunz 9.DK)
Key characteristics
- Crystal system
- triclinic
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5–6
- Specific gravity
- 3.3–3.4
- Luster
- vitreous
- Transparency
- translucent, opaque
- Color
- black, green, brown
- Streak
- gray, green
- Cleavage
- perfect
- Fracture
- uneven, subconchoidal
- Crystal habit
- prismatic, tabular, granular, massive, radiating
- Classic / historic
Buy Babingtonite specimens
View all 12Where Babingtonite is found
Top localities
- Prospect Park Quarry6 specimens
- Nashik4 specimens
- Mumbai4 specimens
- Roncari Quarry3 specimens
- Lane & Son Traprock quarries2 specimens
- Laochang ore field2 specimens
- Cliff mine1 specimen
- Massachusetts1 specimen
- Zhaotong1 specimen
Guides
All guides
Guide
Babingtonite from Zhaotong, Yunnan, China
Babingtonite from Zhaotong is best understood as the Qiaojia County material: sharp, black, iron-rich silicate crystals set dramatically on pale green prehnite and, in many specimens, sparkling quartz. The finest examples are immediately r…Read guide
Guide
Babingtonite from Prospect Park Quarry, New Jersey, USA
Prospect Park Quarry babingtonite is one of the most recognizable departures from the usual appearance of the species. Instead of the familiar jet-black, sharply lustrous babingtonite on pale prehnite or zeolite matrix, the best Prospect P…Read guide
Guide
Babingtonite from Lane & Son Traprock Quarries, Westfield, Massachusetts, USA
Babingtonite from Westfield, Massachusetts - defining American locality with jet-black euhedral crystals on traprock, strong contrast, and historic quarrying.Read guideAbout Babingtonite
Collectors value babingtonite for its crisp crystal forms, dark color, and the way it can occur in sizable, well-terminated specimens. When found with quartz, calcite, or other silicates, babingtonite can present attractive contrast and detail, attracting field collectors and museum-quality drawers alike. Its presence in historic or classic mining districts adds to its appeal, providing a tangible link to well-documented mineral assemblages and a visible example of hydrothermal mineral growth.
