Birileiten
Spitz, Krems-Land District, Lower Austria, Austria
Birileiten, Mieslingtal, Spitz, Wachau, Niederösterreich, Österreich
Key Information
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Birileiten, in Spitz, Krems-Land District, Lower Austria, Austria, is a notable mineral locality known for its pegmatite occurrences, especially a chrysoberyl-bearing pegmatite discovered in 1983.
It features a variety of minerals, including rare chrysoberyl and spessartine, appealing to mineral crystal enthusiasts.
The area is part of the Bohemian Massif, with a temperate climate and rich cultural ties to the Wachau Valley’s wine production.
Geographic Location
Birileiten is nestled in the Miesling valley, within the town of Spitz, in the Krems-Land District of Lower Austria, Austria. This district lies in the eastern part of the country, along the Danube River, with coordinates at approximately 48° 23’ 21’’ North and 15° 24’ 19’’ East. Nearby, the town of Spitz is famous for its scenic beauty and proximity to other historic sites in the Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage area.
Minerals Produced
The locality is renowned for its pegmatite deposits, yielding minerals such as albite, almandine, anthophyllite, apatite, bavenite, bertrandite, beryl, chrysoberyl, columbite, feldspar, mica, quartz, schorl, sillimanite, spessartine, and zircon. Notably, chrysoberyl is rare and prized for its gemstone varieties like alexandrite and cat’s eye, while spessartine, a type of garnet, adds to its appeal for collectors.
Geological Structure
Birileiten is part of the Bohemian Massif, featuring ancient metamorphic and igneous rocks with younger pegmatite intrusions. These pegmatites, formed through crystallization from magma or hydrothermal fluids, provide insights into the region’s geological history.