Bixbyite

Bixbyite is an uncommon mineral, distinguished by its dark, lustrous crystals that are often exceptionally formed. The sharply formed crystals, combined with a frequently contrasting light rhyolite matrix, make this mineral very appealing to the collector.

Bixbyite is named in honor of Maynard Bixby (1853 – 1935) an American mineralogist, collector, and mineral dealer. Bixby explored the Thomas Range in Utah and staked several claims of Topaz, and he discovered Bixbyite there.

The premier locality for Bixbyite, which produces almost all collector specimens in sharp, lustrous crystals, is the Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah. Small but well-formed crystals have also come from the Beryllium Virgin claim and the Taylor Creek Tin District, Sierra Co., New Mexico.

Dense crystal clusters of sharp cubic Bixbyite crystals have occurred in the N'Chwaning Mine, Kuruman, Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa. Also in South Africa is the Postmasburg Manganese Field, Northern Cape Province. Micro crystals of Bixbite occur in the Eifel Mountains volcanic complex, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany; and small crystals were found in Las Plumas, Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina.